Decorative assembly for a floral grouping

ABSTRACT

A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/912,217,filed Jul. 24, 2001 Now U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,380; which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 09/670,644, filed Sep. 27, 2000, now abandoned; whichis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/576,789, filed May 23, 2000, nowabandoned; which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/333,333, filed Jun.15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,045, issued Jul. 4, 2000; which is adivisional of Ser. No. 08/827,852, filed Apr. 11, 1997, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,937,576, issued Aug. 17, 1999; which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Ser. No. 08/468,178, filed Jun. 6, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.5,647,189, issued Jul. 16, 1997.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to decorative assemblies forfloral groupings and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation,to a decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a sheet ofmaterial disposed about a floral holding material with a crimped portionformed in the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet ofmaterial in position about the floral holding material to provide adecorative covering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of material constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the sheet of material extended abouta portion of a floral holding material with a crimped portion beingformed in the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet ofmaterial in the position extended about the floral grouping to provide adecorative covering in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modified floral holding material showingthe sheet of material of FIG. 1 wrapped about the modified floralholding material to provide a decorative covering.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another modified floral holdingmaterial.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the modified floral holding material ofFIG. 4 showing the sheet of material disposed about a portion of themodified floral holding material with the crimped portion being formedin a portion of the sheet of material.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a modified sheet of material.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a floral holding material with the sheetof material of FIG. 6 disposed about a portion of the floral holdingmaterial and a modified crimped portion being formed in a portion of thesheet of material.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of still another modified sheet of material.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a floral holding material showing thesheet of material of FIG. 8 disposed about a portion of the floralholding material with the crimped portion being formed in the sheet ofmaterial in a manner like that shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a floralholding material having a sheet of fluid impermeable material disposedthereabout to provide a flexible vase in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the sheet of fluid impermeable materialdisposed about the floral holding material to provide the flexible vaseof FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway, perspective view of the floral holdingmaterial of the flexible vase of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial having a sheet of fluid impermeable material disposedthereabout to provide a flexible vase in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of theflexible vase of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of FIG. 15having a base member disposed adjacent an open lower end of the floralholding material.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of FIG. 15having another embodiment of a base member disposed adjacent an openlower end of the floral holding material.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material provide a flexiblevase similar in appearance to the flexible vase of FIG. 14.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sheet of flexible material used toform the floral holding material of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial having a plurality of slots formed about and open upper end ofthe floral holding material.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material, provides aflexible vase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 24 having one edge thereof turned up toshow a lower side thereof.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material, provides aflexible vase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 26 having one edge thereof turned up toshow a lower side thereof.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material, provides aflexible vase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material, provides aflexible vase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of FIG. 30in a partially assembled condition.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material, provides aflexible vase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 37 wherein a connector assembly has reduced the size of thecircumference of the preformed floral holding material.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding material inan expanded condition having an elastic member for maintaining thepreformed floral holding material in the expanded condition.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 39 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a preformedfloral holding material in an expanded condition having a strap assemblyfor maintaining the preformed floral holding material in the expandedcondition.

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 41 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 41 having another embodiment of a strap assembly for maintainingthe preformed floral holding material in an expanded condition.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 43 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialhaving a plurality of ring members for maintaining the preformed floralholding material in an expanded condition.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 45 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialhaving a tab assembly for maintaining the preformed floral holdingmaterial in an expanded condition.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 47 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialhaving an elastic member disposed about a peripheral sidewall formaintaining the preformed floral holding material in an expandedcondition.

FIG. 50 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 49 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation andhaving the elastic member removed therefrom.

FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialhaving another embodiment of an assembly for maintaining the preformedfloral holding material in an expanded condition.

FIG. 52 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding material inan expanded condition wherein the preformed floral holding material isformed of a resilient material.

FIG. 53 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 52 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 54 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialhaving another embodiment of a tab assembly for maintaining thepreformed floral holding material in an expanded condition.

FIG. 55 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 54 in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of a preformed floral holding materialhaving yet another embodiment of a tab assembly for maintaining thepreformed floral holding material in an expanded condition.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view illustrating one side of the preformedfloral holding material of FIG. 56 when the preformed floral holdingmaterial is in a flattened condition for storage and transportation.

FIG. 58 is a perspective view illustrating a second side of thepreformed floral holding material of FIG. 56 when the preformed floralholding material is in a flattened condition for storage andtransportation.

FIG. 59 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a preformedfloral holding material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 60 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 59 having an upper portion removed therefrom to reduce theheight of the preformed floral holding material.

FIG. 61 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a preformedfloral holding material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 62 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 61 showing a floral grouping disposed therein.

FIG. 63 is a perspective view of the preformed floral holding materialof FIG. 61 showing a floral grouping disposed therein and having anelastic band disposed about the floral grouping.

FIG. 64 is a perspective view of a dispenser containing a plurality ofthe preformed floral holding material of FIG. 61.

FIG. 65 is a fragmental, perspective view of another embodiment of apreformed floral holding material constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 66 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a flexible vaseconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 67 is a plan view of a sheet of fluid impermeable material having asheet of flexible material secured thereto for forming the flexible vaseof FIG. 66.

FIG. 68 is a plan view of a sheet of fluid impermeable material having asheet of flexible material secured thereto for forming the flexible vaseof FIG. 66.

FIG. 69 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a flexible vaseconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 70 is a plan view of a sheet of fluid impermeable material having ashape-sustaining support member secured thereto in a flattened conditionfor forming the flexible vase of FIG. 69.

FIG. 71 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a flexiblevase constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 72 is a plan view of a sheet of fluid impermeable material having ashape-sustaining support member secured thereto in a flattened conditionfor forming the flexible vase of FIG. 71.

FIG. 73 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a flexiblevase constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 74 is a plan view of a sheet of fluid impermeable material having ashape-sustaining support member secured thereto in a flattened conditionfor forming the flexible vase of FIG. 73.

FIG. 75 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a flexible vaseconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 76 is a perspective view of a shape-sustaining support memberhaving a flexible bag disposed therein which, when wrapped with a sheetof material provides the flexible vase of FIG. 75.

FIG. 77 is a perspective view of a sheet of flexible material forforming the shape-sustaining support member of FIG. 76, the sheet offlexible material having the flexible bag connected thereto.

FIG. 78 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vaseconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 79 is a side elevational view of a self-erecting floral holdingcontainer in a collapsed condition disposed on a sheet of fluidimpermeable material, the self-erecting floral holding container and thesheet of fluid impermeable material cooperating to form the vase of FIG.78 when the self-erecting floral holding container is in the erectedposition.

FIG. 80 is a side elevational view of the self-erecting floral holdingcontainer in a collapsed condition disposed on the sheet of fluidimpermeable material.

FIG. 81 is a perspective view of a shape-sustaining support memberdisposed in a flexible bag which, when wrapped with a sheet of material,provides a flexible vase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 82 is a perspective view of a sheet of flexible martial disposed ina flexible bag which, when assembled, provides the shape-sustainingsupport member disposed in the bag of FIG. 81.

FIG. 83 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial which, when wrapped with a sheet of material provide a flexiblevase in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 84 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 83.

FIG. 85 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial having a sheet of fluid impermeable material disposedthereabout to provide a flexible vase in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 86 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of theflexible vase of FIG. 85.

FIG. 87 is a plan view of a sheet of flexible material used to form thefloral holding material of FIG. 86.

FIG. 88 is an exploded view of a male connector shown in FIG. 87.

FIG. 89 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of FIG. 86having a base member disposed adjacent an open lower end of the floralholding material.

FIG. 90 is a perspective view of the floral holding material of FIG. 86having another embodiment of a base member disposed adjacent an openlower end of the floral holding material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the general reference numeral 10 is asheet of material constructed in accordance with the present invention.The sheet of material 10 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface 14 andan outer periphery 16.

The sheet of material 10 is constructed from any suitable flexiblematerial that is capable of being wrapped or extended about a floralholding material 18 (FIG. 2) in the manner described below. Preferably,the sheet of material 10 is constructed of a material selected from agroup of materials consisting of paper, metal foil, cloth (natural orsynthetic or combinations thereof), denim, burlap, polymer film or clingmaterial or combinations thereof.

The term “polymer film” as used herein means any polymer film. Forexample, but not by way of limitation, one polymer film is apolypropylene film. Another example of a polymer film, but not by way oflimitation, is cellophane.

The sheet of material 10 has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 milsto about 30 mils. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 has a thicknessin a range from about 0.1 mils to about 5 mils.

The sheet of material 10 may be any shape and a circular shape is shownin FIG. 1 only by way of example. The sheet of material 10, for exampleonly, may be square or rectangular or any other geometric shape such asheart shaped.

The sheet of material 10 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterials. Any thickness of the sheet of material 10 may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention as long as the sheet of material10 is wrappable about the floral holding material 18, as describedherein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film,preferably as one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order toprovide additional protection for the item wrapped therein. The layersof material comprising the sheet of material 10 may be connectedtogether or laminated or may be separate layers.

A decorative pattern, such as a color and/or an embossed pattern, and/orother decorative surface ornamentation may be applied to the uppersurface 12 and/or the lower surface 14 of the sheet of material 10 orportions thereof including, but not limited to, printed designs,coatings, colors, flocking or metallic finishes. The sheet of material10 also may be totally or partially clear or tinted transparentmaterial.

“Cling Wrap or Material” as used herein means any material which iscapable of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itself uponcontacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable aboutan item whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engage andconnect to other portions of the wrapping material for generallysecuring the sheet of material wrapped about at least a portion of theitem. This connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that thewrapping material may be easily removed without tearing same, i.e., thecling material “clings” to the wrapping material. A wrapping materialwhich remains securely connected to and about the wrapped item until thewrapping material is torn therefrom.

The cling material is constructed and treated, if necessary, frompolyethylene, such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First BrandsCorporation, Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, inpart, depend upon the thickness of the sheet of material utilized, i.e.,generally, the thicker and therefore heavier sheet of material mayrequire a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The clingmaterial will range in thickness from less than about 0.2 mils to about10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mils to about 2.5 mils andmost preferably from less than about 0.6 mils to about 2 mils. However,any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordance with thepresent invention which permits the cling material to function asdescribed herein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the floral holding material 18 has an upper end 20,a lower end 22 and an outer peripheral surface 24. The floral holdingmaterial 18 shown in FIG. 2 is spherically shaped, although the floralholding material 18 may be any shape desired in any particularapplication. The floral holding material 18 is constructed of a materialcapable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping 26 and holding orsupporting the floral grouping without any pot means, such as a separateflower pot, for example.

The floral holding means 18 may be the type of material commonlyreferred to in the art as floral foam or Oasis™ or may be soil, orartificial soil or other earth composition so long as the material iscapable of holding its predetermined shape and capable of receiving andsupporting the floral grouping 26 without any additional pot means. Thefloral holding material 18 may be capable of receiving and holding waterfor supplying water to the floral grouping 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the floral grouping 26 has a stem end 28 and a bloomend 30. A portion of the stem end 28 of the floral grouping 26 isextended into the floral holding material 18. The bloom end 30 of thefloral grouping 26 extends a distance above the floral holding material18.

“Floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, a single flower, other fresh and/or artificial plants, or otherfloral materials and may include other secondary plants and/orornamentation which add to the aesthetics of the overall floralgrouping.

As mentioned before, the floral holding material 18, as shown in FIG. 2,is generally spherically shaped. A flat portion (not shown) may beformed on the lower end 22 of the floral holding material 18 so that thefloral holding material 18 may be supported more easily on a flatsurface such as on a table (not shown) for example.

The sheet of material 10 is disposed adjacent the floral holdingmaterial 18 with the upper surface 12 of the sheet of material 10 beingdisposed adjacent the outer peripheral surface 24 of the floral holdingmaterial 18. In this position, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet of material10 is extended about and covers a substantial portion of the floralholding material 18 leaving the upper end 20 of the floral holdingmaterial 18 substantially uncovered so that the floral grouping 26extends outwardly from the upper end 20 of the floral holding material18.

In this position, a crimped portion 32 is formed in the sheet ofmaterial 10 near the upper end 20 of the floral holding material 18. Thecrimped portion 32 is formed by crimping together portions of the sheetof material to form the crimped portion 32. The crimped portion 32extends a distance inwardly toward a central portion of the floralholding material 18. The crimped portion 32 preferably extendscircumferentially about the upper end 20 of the floral holding material18, although the crimped portion 32 could be formed only in portions ofthe sheet of material 10 thereby forming circumferentially spaced apartcrimped portions if desired in a particular application.

As shown in FIG. 2, the crimped portion 32 is formed by placing a band34 about a portion of the sheet of material 10 with the band 34gathering or bringing together portions of the sheet of material 10pulling portions of the sheet of material 10 toward a central portion ofthe upper end 20 of the floral holding material 18 to form the crimpedportion 32.

The term “band” as used herein means any material which may be securedabout an object, such bands commonly being referred to as elastic bandsor rubber bands and also includes any other type of material such as astring or elastic piece of material, non-elastic piece of material, around piece of material, a flat piece of material, a ribbon, a piece ofpaper strip, a piece of plastic strip, a piece of wire, a tie wrap or atwist tie or combinations thereof or any other device capable ofgathering the sheet of material 10 to removably or substantiallypermanently form the crimped portion 32 and secure the crimped portion32 formed in the sheet of material 10. The band also may include a bowif desired in a particular application.

A portion of the sheet of material 10 near the outer periphery 16thereof extends a distance above and beyond the crimped portion 32 toform a skirt 36 (FIG. 2) extending circumferentially about the upper end20 of the floral holding material 18 and circumferentially about thefloral grouping 26. The sheet of material 10 secured about the floralholding material 18 in the manner just described provides a decorativecovering 38. The sheet of material 10 and the floral holding material 18together with the means for forming the crimped portion 32 comprise adecorative assembly 40.

In one preferred embodiment, the band is automatically placed about thesheet of material 10 using any one of a number of commercially availableautomatic or semi automatic banding machines such as the automaticshaping machine Model No. Power 260 available from Clements Industries,Inc., South Hackensack, N.J., or the machine Model No. Model BMNS SideBender available from Saxmayer Corporation, Blissfield, Minn. (MN), forexample. In this last mentioned embodiment, the floral holding material18 with the sheet of material 10 extended thereabout is placed in thebanding machine and the banding machine is activated to automaticallyplace the band 34 about the sheet of material 10.

A system for automatically placing a band about a sheet of materialdisposed about a flower pot is disclosed in co-pending applicationentitled “BAND APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING A BAND ABOUT A SHEET OF MATERIALAND A POT” and assigned to the assignee of the present invention and onedisclosure of the letters application specifically is incorporatedherein by reference. This system can be utilized for automaticallyplacing the band 34 about the sheet of material 10 in accordance withthe present invention.

In one other embodiment, the sheet of material 10 is placed about thefloral holding material 18 and then placed in a holding device of thetype disclosed in copending patent application entitled “METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING WITH WATER HOLDING ANDRELEASING MATERIAL”, and assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention, the disclosure of which specifically hereby is incorporatedherein by reference. This device includes a band holder. After thefloral holding material 18 with the sheet of material 10 extendedthereabout is placed in the holding device, the operator then takes aband from the band holder and pulls it over the holding device and ontothe sheet of material 10.

Embodiment of FIG. 3

Shown in FIG. 3 is a modified decorative assembly 40 a comprising thesheet of material 10 a wrapped about a modified floral holding material18 a. The floral holding material 18 a is constructed exactly like thefloral holding material 18 shown in FIG. 2 and described in detailbefore, except the floral holding material 18 a has a generallyrectangularly shaped cross section as compared to the circular shapedcross section shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the floral holdingmaterial 18.

The sheet of material 10 a is constructed exactly like the sheet ofmaterial 10 except the sheet of material 10 a may be rectangularlyshaped.

The sheet of material 10 a is extended about the floral holding material18 a and the crimped portion 32 a is formed in the sheet of material viathe band 34 a in a manner exactly like that described before inconnection with the sheet of material and the floral holding material 18shown in FIG. 2.

Embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5

Shown in FIG. 4 is a modified floral holding material 18 b which isconstructed exactly like the floral holding material 18 shown in FIG. 2and described in detail before, except the floral holding material 18 bis in the shape of a solid basket.

Shown in FIG. 5 is a sheet of material 10 b which is constructed exactlylike the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 and described in detailbefore, except the sheet of material 10 b is disposed or extended aboutthe floral holding material 18 b. A crimped portion 32 b is formed inthe sheet of material 10 b via a band 34 b for cooperating to hold thesheet of material 10 b in position about the floral holding material 18b to provide the decorative covering 38 b.

The decorative assembly 40 b is constructed and operates exactly likethe decorative assembly 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described indetail before, except the sheet of material 10 b is extended about thefloral holding material 18 b having a basket like shape as opposed to aspherical shape or rectangularly shaped cross section like the floralholding material 18 or 18 a shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively.

Embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7

Shown in FIG. 6 is a modified sheet of material 10 c which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed in detail before, except the sheet of material 10 c has aclosure bonding material 42 disposed thereon. More particularly, theclosure bonding material 42 is disposed on the upper surface 12 c of thesheet of material 10 c and the closure bonding material 42 is spaced adistance 44 from the outer periphery 16 c of the sheet of material 10 c.The closure bonding material 42 extends circumferentially about thesheet of material 10 c. The closure bonding material 42 is spaced adistance radially from a central portion of the sheet of material 10 c.It should be noted that, although the closure bonding material 42 isshown in FIG. 6 in the form on a continuous strip, the closure bondingmaterial 42 may be in the form of spots or spaced apart strips and thespots or strips may be of any geometric shape desired in a particularapplication.

The term “bonding material” as used herein means an adhesive, preferablya pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where the bonding materialis a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on theadjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging withthe cohesive material. The term “bonding material” also includesmaterials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacentportions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat mustbe applied to effect the seal. The term “bonding material” as usedherein also means a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied to thesheet of material and, in this instance, heat also must be applied toeffect the sealing. The term “bonding material” as used herein means anytype of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding orconnecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet ofmaterial to effect the connection or bonding described herein.

Shown in FIG. 7 is a floral holding material 18 c which is constructedexactly like the floral holding material 18 a shown in FIG. 3 anddescribed in detail before.

In operation, the sheet of material 10 c is extended about a portion ofthe outer peripheral surface 24 c of the floral holding material 18 c.The crimped portion 32 c is formed in the sheet of material 10 c bycrimping together portions of the sheet of material 10 c near theclosure bonding material 42 and forming overlapping portions of thesheet of material with the overlapping portions being substantiallybonded via the closure bonding material 42 to form the crimped portion32 c. The crimped portion 32 c cooperates to hold the sheet of material10 c about the floral holding material 18 c to provide the decorativecovering 38 c in a manner exactly like that described before withrespect to the crimped portion 32 c formed with the band 34 shown inFIG. 2, except in this instance the crimped portion 32 is formed bybringing together and bonding portions of the sheet of material 10 c viathe closure bonding material 42. The closure bonding material 42 ispositioned on the upper surface 12 c of the sheet of material 10 c sothat the crimped portion 32 c is positioned above the upper end 20 c ofthe floral holding material 18 c, shown in FIG. 7.

The crimping of the sheet of material 10 c may be accomplished by handor with a machine or device.

Embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9

Shown in FIG. 8 is a modified sheet of material 10 d which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 c shown in FIG. 6,except the sheet of material 10 d also includes a first pot bondingmaterial 46 which extends circumferentially about a portion of the sheetof material 10 d. The first pot bonding material 46 is spaced a distancefrom the closure bonding material 42 and spaced a distance from acentral portion of the sheet of material 10 d. The sheet of material 10d also includes a second pot bonding material 48 which is disposed onthe upper surface 12 d of the sheet of material 10 d with the second potbonding material 48 covering a centralportion of the sheet of material10 d.

Shown in FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a floral holding material 18 dwhich is constructed exactly like the floral holding material 18 a shownin FIG. 3 and described in detail before. The sheet of material 10 d isextended about the floral holding material 18 d and the crimped portion32 d is formed in the sheet of material 10 d in a manner exactly likethat described before in connection with the sheet of material 10 cshown in FIG. 7.

The first pot bonding material 46 is disposed on the sheet of material10 d and positioned thereon so that, when the sheet of material 10 d iswrapped or extended about the floral holding material 18 d, the firstpot bonding material 46 is disposed adjacent a portion of an outerperipheral surface 24 d near an upper end 20 d of the floral holdingmaterial 18 d. The portion of the sheet of material 10 d with the potbonding material 46 thereon is bondingly connected to the outerperipheral surface 24 d of the floral holding material 18 d for furthercooperating to hold the sheet of material 10 d about the floral holdingmaterial 18 d. In addition, the second pot bonding material 48 ispositioned on the sheet of material 10 d so that the second pot bondingmaterial 48 engages a portion of a lower end 22 d of the floral holdingmaterial 18 d and bondingly connected thereto for still furthercooperating to hold the sheet of material 10 d about the floral holdingmaterial 18 d to form the decorative covering 38 d.

The closure bonding material 42 and the pot bonding materials 46 and 48may be disposed on the upper surface or the lower surface or both of thesheet of material 10 d or any of the sheets of material described hereinor in any of the other positions described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,629and in the copending application entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FORFORMING A DECORATIVE COVER”, owned by the Assignee of the presentinvention, the disclosures of which specifically hereby is incorporatedherein by reference.

The present invention particularly is useful for providing a decorativecovering using a sheet of material constructed of a material which isnon-shape-sustaining. Non-shape-sustaining means that the material maybe shaped about the floral holding material, but the sheet of materialwill not hold that shape and will relax back into substantially thenon-formed shape unless held about the floral holding material by somemeans such as forming the crimped portion in the sheet of material. Bycomparison, a shape-sustaining sheet of material would be a materialsuch as a metal foil, for example, which may be formed about the floralholding material and which will substantially maintain the formed shape.

Embodiment of FIGS. 10-13

Shown in FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 60 constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 60 comprises asheet of fluid impermeable material 62 wrapped about a floral holdingmaterial 64 and secured about the floral holding material 64 by a band66. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the sheet offluid impermeable material 62 and the floral holding material 64cooperate to define a reservoir 68 in the flexible vase 60. Thus, tostore floral groupings, such as cut flowers 70 having stem portions 72and bloom portions 74, the stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70 aredisposed into the reservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60 and the reservoir68 is then filled with a suitable fluid, such as water 76.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 may be of any shape such as asquare as shown in FIG. 11, or a rectangle or any other geometricconfiguration. Further, the sheet of fluid imperable material 62 may beconstructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers ofthe same or different types of material as long as at least one of thesheets of material, preferably the sheet of material disposedsubstantially adjacent the floral holding material 64 is impermeable toa fluid, such as water. When utilizing more than one layer of materialas the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62, the sheets of materialmay be connected together, laminated or maintained as separate sheets ofmaterial. The thickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62can vary widely, the only requirements being that the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 62 have sufficient strength so that the flexiblevase 60 formed from the floral holding material 64 the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 62 is capable of holding water disposed in thereservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60 to permit the flexible vase 60 tobe transported and displayed, and the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 62 be wrappable about the floral holding material 64 asdescribed in detail hereinafter.

While the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 has been shown in FIG.11 as a single sheet of material, it should be understood that a pad ofsheets of fluid impermeable material 62 may be utilized to enhanceassembly of a plurality of flexible vases 60, or a roll of fluidimpermeable material 62 may be provided so that sheets of the fluidimpermeable material 62 can readily be obtained by cutting a sheet ofmaterial from the roll of material or by providing perforations in theroll of material to facilitate removal of the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 62.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 is disposed about the floralholding material 64 to form a decorative cover 78 about the floralholding material 64. The decorative cover 78 extends a distance abovethe floral holding material 64 such that an upper end portion 80 of thefloral holding material 64 remains substantially uncovered by thedecorative cover 78. Thus, when a floral grouping such as cut flowers 70is positioned within the reservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60, an upperportion of the stem portions 72 and the bloom portions 74 of the cutflowers 70 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 80 of the floralholding material 64.

A crimped portion 82 can be formed in the decorative cover 78 near theupper end portion 80 of the floral holding material 64. The crimpedportion 82, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formed by crimpingtogether portions of the decorative cover 78. The crimped portion 82 canalso be formed by placing the band 66 about a portion of the decorativecover 78, in which case the band 66 gathers or brings together portionsof the decorative cover 78 and pulls portions of the decorative cover 78toward the upper end portion 80 of the floral holding material 64 toform the crimped portion 82 substantially as shown.

The term “band” as used herein means any material which may be securedabout the decorative cover 78 to secure the decorative cover 78 aboutthe floral holding material 64 and/or to provide additional decorativefeatures to the decorative cover 78. Such bands are well known in theart and include elastic or rubber bands, string, ribbon, bows, paperstrips, plastic strips, wire, tie wraps, twist ties and combinationsthereof or any other device capable of gathering the decorative cover 78to form the crimped portion 82 and thereby secure the decorative cover78 about the floral holding material 64 or to enhance the decor of theflexible vase 60.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 may also have a bondingmaterial 84 disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposed portionsof the decorative cover 78 forming the crimped portion 82. Moreparticularly, the bonding material 84 may be disposed on at least one ofan upper surface 86 or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 62 so as to be disposed a distance radially from acentral portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62. It shouldbe noted that, although the bonding material 84 is shown in FIG. 11 inthe form of a continuous strip, the bonding material may be in the formof spots or spaced apart strips and the spots or spaced apart strips maybe of any geometric design.

The bonding material 84 is desirably a pressure sensitive adhesive or acohesive. However, it is to be understood that the term bonding material84 also includes heat sealing, a heat sealing lacquer which may beapplied to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 and which requiresheat to effect the bonding, or any other type of material which may beused to effect bonding of adjacently disposed portions of the decorativecover 78 defining the crimped portion 82.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 12, the floral holding material 62comprises a substantially frustoconical shape-sustaining support member88 (also referred to herein as the shape-sustaining support member 88).The shape-sustaining support member 88 has an open upper end 89, an openlower end 90 and a peripheral sidewall 92 defining an internal chamber94 extending between the open upper end 89 and the open lower end 90which serves as the reservoir 68 of the flexible vase 60. To preventpuncture of the decorative cover 78 formed about the shape-sustainingsupport member 88 by the stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70, a basemember 96 is disposed across at least a portion of the open lower end 90of the shape-sustaining support member 88 for restricting movement ofthe stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70 through the open lower end 90of the shape-sustaining support member 88.

The shape-sustaining support member 88 is fabricated of a sheet offlexible material 98 (FIG. 13) which has sufficient flexibility topermit the sheet of flexible material 98 to be formed into theshape-sustaining support member 88, which also has sufficient strengthto provide the required shape-sustaining properties to theshape-sustaining support member 88 and is sufficiently fluid resistantto prevent deterioration of the shape-sustaining support member 88 whencontacted with a fluid, such as water. The thickness of the sheet offlexible material 98 can vary widely, the only requirements being thatthe sheet of flexible material 98 have sufficient strength andflexibility to satisfy the above requirements. Materials possessing theabove-identified properties which may be used as the sheet of flexiblematerial 98 for fabrication of the shape-sustaining support member 88are polymeric materials, metals, water-repellent cardboards and thelike.

While the sheet of flexible material 98 has been shown as an individualsheet of material, it should be understood that sheets of flexiblematerial 98 can be stacked so that each individual sheet of the flexiblematerial could be removed from the stack and shaped into the desiredconfiguration of the shape-sustaining support member 88; or, the sheetsof flexible material 98 could be in the form of a roll of material inwhich perforations outline the configuration of each sheet of flexiblematerial 98.

The sheet of flexible material 98 has an upper side 100 having acentrally disposed recess 102, a lower side 104, a first end portion 106and a second end portion 108 which cooperate to provide the sheet offlexible material 98 with a substantially semi-circular configuration.The base member 96 is connected to the lower side 104 of the sheet offlexible material 98 (substantially as shown), and the base member 96 isprovided with a circular configuration. The size or dimensions of thebase member 96 can vary widely. That is, the base member 96 can beprovided with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the openlower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member 88 so that when thesheet of flexible material 98 is formed into the configuration of theshape-sustaining support member 88 and the base member 96 is folded tobe disposed substantially adjacent the open lower end 90 of theshape-sustaining support member 88, the base member 96 extends acrossthe open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member 88substantially as shown in FIG. 12; or, the base member 96 can beprovided with a diameter less than the diameter of the open lower end 90of the shape-sustaining support member 88 so that when the sheet offlexible material 98 is formed into the configuration of theshape-sustaining support member 88 and the base member 96 is folded soas to be disposed substantially adjacent the open lower end 90 of theshape-sustaining support member 88, the base member 96 extends acrossonly a portion of the open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining supportmember 88; or, the base member 96 can be provided with a diametergreater than the diameter of the open lower end 90 of theshape-sustaining support member 88 so that when the sheet of material 98is formed into the configuration of the shape-sustaining support member88 and the base member 96 is folded so as to be disposed substantiallyadjacent the open lower end 90 of the shape-sustaining support member88, the base member 96 extends beyond the portion of the peripheralsidewall 92 of the shape-sustaining support member 88.

The sheet of flexible material 98 is further provided with a connectorassembly 110 for connecting the first end portion 106 of the sheet offlexible material 98 to the second end portion 108 of the sheet offlexible material 98 when the sheet of flexible material 98 is formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 88 configuration substantiallyas shown in FIG. 12. The connector assembly 110 comprises a maleconnector 112 disposed along the upper side 100 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 98 and a plurality of female connectors 114 disposed in thesecond end portion 108 of the sheet of flexible material 98 such that atleast one female connector 114 is adapted to matingly receive the maleconnector 112 and thereby connect the first end portion 106 of the sheetof flexible material 98 to the second end portion 108 of the sheet ofmaterial 98.

The plurality of female connectors 114 are spatially disposed slitsprovided in the second end portion 108 of the sheet of material 98 sothat each of the female connectors 114 is alignable with the maleconnector 112 when the first end portion 106 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 98 is disposed over the second end portion 108 of the sheet offlexible material 98 during formation of the shape-sustaining supportmember 88. Thus, upon inserting the male connector 112 into a selectedfemale connector 114, the circumferential dimensions of theshape-sustaining support member 88 can be varied.

While the sheet of flexible material 98 has been illustrated as havingonly one male connector 112, it should be understood that a plurality ofthe male connectors 112 could be disposed along the upper side 100 ofthe sheet of flexible material 98 for mating engagement with the femaleconnectors 114 formed in the second end portion 108 of the sheet offlexible material 98. Further, the configuration of the male connector112 can vary widely, the only requirement being that the male connector112 be adapted to matingly engage and be connected to the femaleconnector 114 so that the first end portion 106 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 98 can be securely connected to the second end portion 108 ofthe sheet of flexible material 98 so as to form the shape-sustainingsupport member 88.

To stabilize cut flowers 70 within the internal chamber 94 of theshape-sustaining support member 88 (i.e. the floral holding material 64of the flexible vase 60), or to provide a flared neck portion about theopen upper end 89 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, a pluralityof finger members 116 are formed in the sheet of flexible material 98about the centrally disposed recess 102 formed in the upper side 100 ofthe sheet of flexible material 98. The finger members 116, which extendinwardly into the sheet of flexible material 98 from the centrallydisposed recess 102, desirably have a rounded or arcuate distal end 118.Thus, the finger members 116 can be easily and quickly pressed inwardlyinto the open upper end 89 of the shape-sustaining support member 88 soas to engage the stem portions 72 of cut flowers 70 disposed within theinternal chamber 94 of the shape-sustaining support member 88, or thefinger members 116 can be flared outwardly and thereby provide a flaredneck portion about the open upper end 89 of the shape-sustaining supportmember 88.

Embodiments of FIGS. 14-18

Shown in FIG. 14 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 120 constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 120 comprises asheet of fluid impermeable material 122 wrapped about a floral holdingmaterial 124 and secured about the floral holding material 124 by a band126. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, the sheet offluid impermeable material 122 and the floral holding material 124cooperate to define a reservoir 128 in the flexible vase 120. Thus, tostore floral groupings, such as cut flowers 70 having stem portions 72and bloom portions 74, the stem portions 72 of the cut flowers 70 aredisposed into the reservoir 128 of the flexible vase 120 and thereservoir 128 is then filled with a suitable fluid, such as water 76.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 is substantially identicalin construction to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 11. Thus, the sheet offluid impermeable material 122 may be of any shape such as a square, ora rectangle or any other geometric configuration. Further, the sheet offluid impermeable material 122 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterial as long as at least one of the sheets of material, preferablythe sheet of material disposed substantially adjacent the floral holdingmaterial 124 is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizingmore than one layer of material as the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 122, the sheets of material may be connected together,laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. The thickness ofthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 can vary widely, the onlyrequirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 havesufficient strength so that the flexible vase 120 formed from the floralholding material 124 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 iscapable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 128 of the flexiblevase 120 and to permit the flexible vase 120 to be transported anddisplayed and that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 bewrappable about the floral holding material 124 as described in detailhereinafter.

It should be understood that a pad of sheets of fluid impermeablematerial 122 may be utilized to enhance assembly of a plurality offlexible vases 120, or a roll of fluid impermeable material 122 may beprovided so that sheets of the fluid impermeable material 122 canreadily be obtained by cutting a sheet of material from the roll ofmaterial or by providing perforations in the roll of material tofacilitate removal of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 is disposed about the floralholding material 124 to form a decorative cover 130 about the floralholding material 124. The decorative cover 130 extends a distance abovethe floral holding material 124 such that an upper end portion 132 ofthe floral holding material 124 remains substantially uncovered by thedecorative cover 130. Thus, when a floral grouping such as cut flowers70 is positioned within the reservoir 128 of the flexible vase 120, anupper portion of the stem portions 72 and the bloom portions 74 of thecut flowers 70 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 132 of thefloral holding material 124.

A crimped portion 134 can be formed in the decorative cover 130 near theupper end portion 132 of the floral holding material 124. The crimpedportion 134, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formed bycrimping together portions of the decorative cover 130. The crimpedportion 134 can also be formed by placing the band 126 about a portionof the decorative cover 130, in which case the band 126 gathers orbrings together portions of the decorative cover 130 and pulls portionsof the decorative cover 130 toward the upper end portion 132 of thefloral holding material 124 to form the crimped portion 134substantially as shown.

As previously stated, the term “band” as used herein means any materialwhich may be secured about the decorative cover 130 to secure thedecorative cover 130 about the floral holding material 124 and/or toprovide additional decorative features to the decorative cover 130. Suchbands are well known in the art and include elastic or rubber bands,string, ribbon, bows, paper strips, plastic strips, wire, tie wraps,twist ties and combinations thereof or any other device capable ofgathering the decorative cover 130 to form the crimped portion 134 andthereby secure the decorative cover 130 about the floral holdingmaterial 124 or to enhance the decor of the flexible vase 120.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 122 may also have a bondingmaterial (not shown) disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposedportions of the decorative cover 130 forming the crimped portion 134.The bonding material (not shown) may be disposed on at least one of anupper surface or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 122 so as to be disposed a distance radially from acentral portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 122; and thebonding material may be in the form of a continuous strip, spots orspaced apart strips and the spots or spaced apart strips may be of anygeometric design.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-18, the floral holding material 124 comprisesa shape-sustaining support member 140 having an open upper end 142, anopen lower end 144 and a peripheral sidewall 146 defining an internalchamber 148 extending between the open upper end 142 and the open lowerend 144. The shape-sustaining support member 140 is fabricated of asheet of flexible material 150 (FIG. 16) which has sufficientflexibility to permit the sheet of flexible material 150 to be formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 140, has sufficient strength toprovide the required shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustainingsupport member 140 and is sufficiently fluid resistant to preventdeterioration of the shape-sustaining support member 140 when contactedwith a fluid, such as water. The thickness of the sheet of flexiblematerial 150 can vary widely, the only requirements being that the sheetof flexible material 150 have sufficient strength and flexibility tosatisfy the above requirements.

The sheet of flexible material 150 has an upper side 152 having acentrally disposed recess 154, a lower side 156, a first end portion158, and a second end portion 160 which cooperate to provide the sheetof flexible material 150 with a substantially semi-circularconfiguration. The sheet of flexible material 150 is also provided witha connector assembly 162 for connecting the first end portion 158 of thesheet of flexible material 150 to the second end portion 160 of thesheet of flexible material 150 so that the sheet of flexible material150 can be formed into the shape-sustaining support member 140.

The connector assembly 162 comprises a male connector 164 extending fromthe upper side 152 of the sheet of flexible material 150 so as to bedisposed in close proximity to the first end portion 158 of the sheet offlexible material 150. A plurality of female connectors 166 are formedin the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 150 suchthat at least one female connector 166 is adapted to matingly receivethe male connector 164 and thereby connect the first end portion 158 ofthe sheet of flexible material 150 to the second end portion 160 of thesheet of flexible material 150 and thus provide the shape-sustainingsupport member 140 shown in FIG. 15.

The male connector 164 is provided with a substantially mushroom orbutton shaped head portion 168 and a shank portion 170. The plurality offemale connectors 166 are a plurality of slits spatially formed in thesecond end portion 160 of the sheet of flexible material 150 so thateach of the female connectors 166 is alignable with the male connector164 when the first end portion 158 of the sheet of flexible material 150is disposed over the second end portion 160 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 132 during formation of the shape-sustaining support member140. Thus, upon inserting the head portion 168 of the male connector 164into a selected female connector 166, the circumferential dimensions ofthe shape-sustaining support member 140 can be varied.

While the sheet of flexible material 150 has been illustrated as havingonly one male connector 164, it should be understood that a plurality ofmale connectors 164 could be disposed along the upper side 152 of thesheet of flexible material 150 for matingly engaging the femaleconnectors 166 formed in the second end portion 160 of the sheet offlexible material 150. Further, while the male connector 164 has beendepicted as having a mushroom or button shaped head portion 168, itshould be understood that the configuration of the male connector 164can vary widely and the head portion 168 of the male connector 164 couldbe in the shape of an arrow, or any other geometric configuration whichis adapted to matingly engage and be connected to the female connectors166 so that the first end portion 158 of the sheet of flexible material150 can be securely connected to the second end portion 160 of the sheetof flexible material 150 to form the shape-sustaining support member140.

To prevent puncture of the decorative cover 130 formed about theshape-sustaining support member 140 by the stem portions 72 of a floralgrouping, such as cut flowers 70, a base member 172 is disposed aboutthe open lower end 144 of the shape-sustaining support member 140substantially as shown in FIG. 17. The base member 172 is provided withan upwardly extending lip 174 to assist in stabilizing the base member172 relative to the shape-sustaining support member 140.

FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of a base member 176 for theshape-sustaining support member 140. In this embodiment, the base member176 is provided with an inwardly tapered peripheral sidewall 178 formatingly engaging a lower portion of the interior surface of theperipheral sidewall 146 of the shape-sustaining support member 140. Thatis, the base member 176 is sized such that the base member 176 can bedisposed within the open lower end 144 of the shape-sustaining supportmember 140 substantially as shown in FIG. 18.

The base members 172 and 176 depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18 can beconnected, if desired, to the shape-sustaining support member 140 toenhance stability and water tightness of the internal chamber 148 formedin the shape-sustaining support member 140. Any suitable means can beemployed for connecting the base members 172 and 176 to theshape-sustaining support member 140, such as an adhesive, cohesive,pressure sensitive adhesive and the like.

Embodiments of FIGS. 19-36

Referring now to FIGS. 19-21, a floral holding material 180 which, whenwrapped with a sheet of the fluid impermeable material such as the sheetof fluid impermeable material 62 hereinbefore described, provides aflexible vase having a configuration similar to the flexible vase 60shown in FIG. 1. The floral holding material 180 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 182 having an open upper end 184, anopen lower end 186 and a peripheral sidewall 188 defining an internalchamber 190 extending between the open upper end 184 and the open lowerend 186.

The shape-sustaining support member 182 is fabricated of a sheet offlexible material 192 (FIGS. 20-21) which has sufficient flexibility topermit the sheet of flexible material 192 to be formed into theshape-sustaining support member 182, sufficient strength to provide therequired shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining supportmember 182 and is sufficiently fluid resistant to prevent deteriorationof the shape-sustaining support member 182 when same is contacted with afluid, such as water. The thickness of the sheet of flexible material192 can vary widely, the only requirement being that the sheet offlexible material 192 have sufficient strength and flexibility tosatisfy the above requirements. Any material possessing theabove-identified properties can be used in the fabrication of the sheetof flexible material 192.

The sheet of flexible material 192 has an upper side 194 having acentrally disposed recess 196, a lower side 198, a first end portion 200and a second end portion 202 which cooperate to provide the sheet offlexible material 192 with a substantially semi-circular configuration.

The sheet of flexible material 192 is further provided with a connectorassembly 204 (FIG. 20) for connecting the first end portion 200 of thesheet of flexible material 192 to the second end portion 202 of thesheet of flexible material 192 when the sheet of flexible material 192is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 188. The connectorassembly 204 comprises a plurality of male connectors 206 formed in thefirst end portion 200 of the sheet of flexible material 192 so as to bedisposed in close proximity to the upper side 194 of the sheet offlexible material 192, and a plurality of female connectors 208 formedin the second end portion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 suchthat at least a portion of the female connectors 208 are adapted tomatingly receive the male connectors 206 and thereby connect the firstend portion 200 of the sheet of flexible material 192 to the second endportion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 to provide theshape-sustaining support member shown in FIG. 19.

The male connectors 206 of the connector assembly 204 are a plurality ofspatially disposed studs or bosses which extend upwardly from an uppersurface 210 of the sheet of flexible material 192; and the femaleconnectors 208 are a plurality of apertures formed in the second endportion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 which are adapted tomatingly receive and frictionally engage the male connectors 206 sothat, upon inserting the male connectors 206 into the female connectors208, the first end portion 200 of the sheet of flexible material 192 canbe securely connected to the second end portion 202 to form theshape-sustaining support member 182. It should be noted that byproviding a plurality of female connectors 208 spatially disposed alongthe second end portion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192,insertion of the male connectors 206 into selected female connectors 208permits one to vary the circumferential dimensions of theshape-sustaining support member 182.

To stabilize cut flowers or other floral arrangements within theinternal chamber 190 of the shape-sustaining support member 182, aplurality of finger members 212 are formed in the sheet of flexiblematerial 192 about the centrally disposed recess 196 formed in the upperside 194 of the sheet of flexible material 192. The finger members 212,which extend inwardly into the sheet of flexible material 192 from thecentrally disposed recess 196 substantially as shown, desirably have arounded or arcuate distal end 214. Thus, the finger members 212 can beeasily and quickly pressed inwardly into the open upper end 184 of theshape-sustaining support member 182 so as to engage the stem portions ofcut flowers or other floral arrangements disposed within the internalchamber 190 of the shape-sustaining support member 182, or the fingermembers 212 can be flared outwardly and thereby provide a flared neckportion about the open upper end of 184 of the shape-sustaining supportmember 182.

Referring now to FIG. 21, another embodiment of a connector assembly 220for interconnecting the first end portion 200 and the second end portion202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 to form the shape-sustainingsupport member 182 is illustrated. The connector assembly 220 comprisesa plurality of male connectors 222 formed in the first end portion 200of the sheet of flexible material 192 so as to be disposed in closeproximity to the upper side 194 of the sheet of flexible material 192;and a plurality of female connectors 224 formed in the second endportion 202 of the sheet of flexible material 192 such that at least aportion of the female connectors 224 are adapted to matingly receive themale connectors 222 and thereby connect the first end portion 200 of thesheet of flexible material 192 to the second end portion 202 of thesheet of flexible material 192 to provide the shape-sustaining supportmember 182 shown in FIG. 19. The male connectors 222 are a plurality ofspatially disposed studs or bosses which extend upwardly from the uppersurface 210 of the sheet of flexible material 192; and the femaleconnectors 224 are a plurality of spatially disposed studs or bosseswhich extend upwardly from the upper surface 210 of the sheet offlexible material 192 and which have a centrally disposed recess 225formed therein adapted to matingly receive the male connectors 222. Theplurality of female connectors 224 are spatially disposed along thesecond end portion 202 such that a portion of the female connectors 224are adapted to matingly receive the male connectors 222. Thus, uponinserting the male connectors 222 into selected female connectors 224,the circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member182 can be varied.

Referring now to FIGS. 22 and 23, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 230 is shown. The floral holding material 230 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 232 having an open upper end 234, anopen lower end 236 and a peripheral sidewall 238 defining an internalchamber 240 extending between the open upper end 234 and the open lowerend 236. The shape-sustaining support member 232 is fabricated of asheet of flexible material 242 (FIG. 23) which has sufficientflexibility to permit the sheet of flexible material 242 to be formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 232.

The sheet of flexible material 242 has an upper side 244 having acentrally disposed recess 246, a lower side 248, a first end portion 250and a second end portion 252 which cooperate to provide the sheet offlexible material 242 with a substantially semi-circular configuration.The sheet of flexible material 242 is further provided with a connectorassembly 254 for connecting the first end portion 250 of the sheet offlexible material 242 to the second end portion 252 of the sheet offlexible material 242 when the sheet of flexible material 242 is formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 232.

The connector assembly 254 comprises a male connector 256 and aplurality of female connectors 258. The male connector 256 is formed inthe upper side 244 of the sheet of flexible material 242 so as to besubstantially adjacent the first end portion 250 of the sheet offlexible material 242; and the plurality of female connectors 258 areformed in the second end portion 252 of the sheet of flexible material242 such that at least one of the female connectors 258 is adapted tomatingly receive the male connector 256 and thereby connect the firstend portion 250 of the sheet of flexible material 242 to the second endportion 252 of the sheet of flexible material 242 and thus provide theshape-sustaining support member 232 shown in FIG. 22. The plurality offemale connectors 258 are spatially disposed slits provided in thesecond end portion 252 of the sheet of flexible material 242 so thateach of the female connectors 258 is alignable with the male connector256 when the first end portion 250 of the sheet of flexible material 242is disposed over the second end portion 252 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 242 during formation of the shape-sustaining support member232. Thus, upon inserting the male connector 256 into a selected femaleconnector 258, the circumferential dimensions of the shape-sustainingsupport member 232 can be varied.

While the sheet of flexible material 242 has been illustrated as havingonly one male connector 256, it should be understood that a plurality ofmale connectors 256 can be disposed along the upper side 244 of thesheet of flexible material 242 for mating engagement with the femaleconnectors 258 formed in the second end portion 252 of the sheet offlexible material 242. Further, the configuration of the male connector256 can vary widely, the only requirement being that the male connector256 be adapted to matingly engage and be connected to the femaleconnectors 258 so that the first end portion 250 of the sheet offlexible material 242 can be securely connected to the second endportion 252 of the sheet of flexible material 242 and thereby form theshape-sustaining support member 232.

To stabilize a floral grouping, such as the cut flowers 70 (FIG. 1),within the internal chamber 240 of the shape-sustaining support member232, a plurality of slots 260 are provided in the sheet of flexiblematerial 242 substantially as shown. The slots 260 extend radially fromthe centrally disposed recess 246 formed in the upper side 244 of thesheet of flexible material 242. Thus, the slots 260 provide openrecessed areas for insertion of floral groupings (such as stem portionsof cut flowers) therethrough for stabilizing same relative to the openupper end 234 of the shape-sustaining support member 232.

The spatially disposed slots 260 also define a plurality of fingermembers 262 which extend from the open upper end 234 of theshape-sustaining support member 232. Thus, if desired, the fingermembers 262 can be easily and quickly pressed inwardly into the openupper end 234 of the shape-sustaining support member 232 so as to engagea portion of the floral arrangement disposed within the internal chamberof the shape-sustaining support member 232 and thereby stabilize thefloral arrangement, or the finger members 262 can be flared outwardlyand thereby provide a flared neck portion about the open upper end 234of the shape-sustaining support member 232.

Referring now to FIG. 24, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 266 is shown. The floral holding material 266 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 268 having an open upper end 270, anopen lower end 272 and a peripheral sidewall 274 defining an internalchamber 276 extending between the open upper end 270 and the open lowerend 272. The shape-sustaining support member 268 is fabricated of asheet of flexible material 278 (FIG. 25) which has sufficientflexibility and strength to permit the sheet of flexible material 278 tobe formed into the shape-sustaining support member 268.

The sheet of flexible material 278 has an upper side 280 having acentrally disposed recess 282, a lower side 284, a first end portion 286and a second end portion 288 which cooperate to provide the sheet offlexible material 278 with a substantially semi-circular configuration.The sheet of flexible material 278 is further provided with a connectorassembly 290 for connecting the first end portion 286 of the sheet offlexible material 278 to the second end portion 288 of the sheet offlexible material 278 when the sheet of flexible material 278 is formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 268.

The connector assembly 290 comprises a male connector 292 disposed on anupper surface 294 of the sheet of flexible material 278 and a femaleconnector 296 formed along a portion of a lower surface 298 of the sheetof flexible material 278. The male connector, which is provided with arib configuration, extends along at least a portion of the sheet offlexible material 278 such that the male connector 292 is disposed onthe surface 294 of the sheet of flexible material 278 in close proximityto the upper side 280 of the sheet of flexible material 278 and extendsbetween the first end portion 286 and the centrally disposed recess 282.The female connector is a generally channel-shaped connection, isdisposed on the lower surface 298 of the sheet of flexible material 278in close proximity to the upper side 280 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 278 and extends between the centrally disposed recess 282 andthe second end portion 288 of the sheet of flexible material 278. Thus,upon forming the sheet of flexible material into the configuration ofthe shape-sustaining support member as shown in FIG. 24, the rib portionof the male connector 292 is snapped into the channel portion of thefemale connector 296 so as to securely connect the first end portion 286of the sheet of flexible material 278 to the second end portion 288 ofthe sheet of flexible material 278 and thereby provide theshape-sustaining support member 268 as shown in FIG. 24.

Referring now to FIG. 26, a floral holding material 300 is shown. Thefloral holding material 300 comprises a shape-sustaining support member302 having an open upper end 304, an open lower end 306 and a peripheralsidewall 308 defining an internal chamber 310 extending between the openupper end 304 and the open lower end 306. The shape-sustaining supportmember 302 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 312 which hassufficient flexibility and strength to permit the sheet of flexiblematerial 312 to be formed into the shape-sustaining support member 302.

The sheet of flexible material 312 (FIG. 27) is provided with asubstantially semi-circular configuration and has an upper side 314having a centrally disposed recess 316, a lower side 318, a first endportion 320, a second end portion 322, an upper surface 324 and a lowersurface 326. The flexible sheet of material 312 is also provided with aconnector assembly 328 for connecting the first end portion 320 of thesheet of flexible material 312 to the second end portion 322 of thesheet of flexible material 312 when the sheet of flexible material 312is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 302.

The connector assembly 328 comprises a first strip of a cohesive 330disposed substantially adjacent the upper side 314 of the sheet offlexible material 312 so as to extend along at least a substantialportion of the distance between the centrally disposed recess 316 formedin the upper side 314 and the first end portion 320 of the sheet offlexible material 312, and a second strip of a cohesive 332 disposed onthe lower surface 326 of the sheet of flexible material 312 so as to bedisposed near the upper side 314 thereof and along a substantial portionof the upper side 314 between the centrally disposed recess 316 formedin the upper side 314 and the second end portion 322 of the sheet offlexible material 312. Thus, when the first end portion 320 of the sheetof flexible material 312 is disposed over the second end portion 322 ofthe sheet of flexible material 312 and the first and second strips ofcohesive 330, 332 are brought into contact, the first end portion 320 ofthe sheet of flexible material 312 is connected to the second endportion 322 of the sheet of material 312 to provide the shape-sustainingsupport member 302. It should be noted that while the connector assembly328 has been shown as a first strip of cohesive 330 and a second stripof cohesive 332, such cohesives are not restricted to being in stripform but can be in the form of dots, segments or any other desiredconfiguration.

Referring now to FIGS. 28 and 29, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 336 is shown. The floral holding material 336 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 338 having an open upper end 340, anopen lower end 342, and a peripheral sidewall 344 defining an internalchamber 346 extending between the open upper end 340 and the open lowerend 342. The shape-sustaining support member 338 is fabricated of asheet of flexible material 348 having sufficient flexibility andstrength to provide the desired shape-sustaining properties to theshape-sustaining support member 338.

The sheet of flexible material 348, which has a substantiallysemicircular configuration, is provided with an upper side 350 having acentrally disposed recess 352, a lower side 354, a first end portion356, a second end portion 358 and an upper surface 360. The sheet offlexible material 348 is further provided with a connector assembly 362for connecting the first end portion 356 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 348 to the second end portion 358 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 348 when the sheet of flexible material 348 is formed into theshape-sustaining support member 338.

The connector assembly 362 comprises a first strip of a cohesive 364 anda second strip of a cohesive 366. The first strip of cohesive 364 isdisposed on the upper surface 360 of the sheet of flexible material 348so as to be disposed substantially adjacent the upper side 350 of thesheet of flexible material 348; and the first strip of cohesive 364extends between the centrally disposed recess 352 and the first endportion 356 of the sheet of flexible material 348. Similarly, the secondstrip of cohesive 366 is disposed on the upper surface 360 of the sheetof flexible material 348 so as to be disposed substantially adjacent theupper side 360 of the sheet of flexible material 348; and the secondstrip of cohesive 366 extends between the centrally disposed recess 352and the second end portion 358 of the sheet of flexible material 348.Thus, when the sheet of flexible material 348 is formed into asubstantially conical configuration, the first strip of cohesive 364 isbrought into contact with the second strip of cohesive 366 so that thefirst and second end portions 356 and 358 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 348 are connected and the sheet of flexible material is formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 338.

Referring now to FIG. 30, a floral holding material 370 is shown. Thefloral holding material 370 comprises a shape-sustaining member 372having an open upper end 374, an open lower end 376 and a peripheralsidewall 378 defining an internal chamber 380 extending between the openupper end 374 and the open lower end 376. The shape-sustaining supportmember 372 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 382 (FIG. 31)having sufficient flexibility and strength to permit the sheet offlexible material 382 to be formed into the shape-sustaining supportmember 372.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 31, the sheet of flexible material382 has an upper side 384 having a centrally disposed recess 386, alower side 388, a first end portion 390 and a second end portion 392which cooperate to provide the sheet of flexible material 382 with asubstantially semi-circular configuration. The sheet of flexiblematerial 382 is further provided with a connector assembly 394 forconnecting the first end portion 390 of the sheet of flexible material382 to the second end portion 392 of the sheet of flexible material 382when the sheet of flexible material 382 is formed into theshape-sustaining support member 372.

The connector assembly 394 comprises a first strip of cohesive 396disposed along an upper surface 398 of the sheet of flexible material382 such that the first strip of cohesive 396 is disposed substantiallyadjacent the upper side 384 of the sheet of flexible material andextends a substantial portion of the distance between the centrallydisposed recess 386 formed in the upper side 384 of the sheet offlexible material 382 and the first end portion 396 thereof. Theconnector assembly 394 further comprises a second strip of cohesive 400disposed on the upper surface 398 of the sheet of flexible material 382such that the second strip of cohesive 400 is disposed substantiallyadjacent the upper side 384 of the sheet of flexible material 382 andextends a substantial portion of the distance between the centrallydisposed recess 386 formed in the upper side 384 of the sheet offlexible material 382 and the second end portion 392 thereof. Thus, whenthe first end portion 390 of the sheet of flexible material 382 isdisposed over the second end portion 392 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 382 and the first and second strips of cohesive 396 and 400 arebrought into bonding engagement, the sheet of flexible material 382 isformed and secured in a substantially frustoconical shape-sustainingmember 401 substantially as shown in FIG. 32 wherein the portions of thefirst and second end portions 390 and 392 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 382 are bondingly connected by the first and second strips ofcohesive 396 and 400 and extend outwardly therefrom to form a flapportion 402. To secure the outwardly extending flap portion 402 to theperipheral sidewall 378 of the shape-sustaining support member 372, theconnector assembly 394 further comprises a strip of adhesive 404disposed along a lower surface 406 of the sheet of flexible material 382so as to be spatially disposed from the second strip of cohesive 400,substantially as shown in FIG. 31. Thus, when the flap 402 is movedadjacent a portion of the peripheral side wall 378 of theshape-sustaining support member 372, the adhesive 404 bondingly connectsthe flap 402 to the adjacently disposed portion of the peripheralsidewall 378 of the shape-sustaining support member 372 to provide theshape-sustaining support member 372 with the configuration shown in FIG.30.

Referring now to FIGS. 33 and 34, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 450 is shown. The floral holding material 450, when wrappedwith a sheet of fluid impermeable material, provides a flexible vasesimilar to the flexible vase 120 shown in FIG. 14. The floral holdingmaterial 450 comprises a shape-sustaining support member 452 having anopen upper end 454, an open lower end 456 and a peripheral sidewall 458defining an internal chamber 460 extending between the open upper end454 and the open lower end 456. A plurality of pleats 461 are formed inthe peripheral sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452.The pleats 461 extend from the open upper end 454 of theshape-sustaining support member 452 and terminate a distance from theopen lower end 456 of the shape-sustaining support member 452.

The shape-sustaining support member 452 is fabricated of a sheet offlexible material 462 (FIG. 34) which has sufficient flexibility topermit the sheet of flexible material 462 to be formed into theshape-sustaining support member 452, sufficient strength to provide therequired shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining supportmember 452, and sufficient water-resistance to prevent deterioration ofthe shape-sustaining support member 452 when the shape-sustainingsupport member 452 is contacted with a fluid, such as water. Thethickness of the sheet of flexible material 462 can vary widely, theonly requirement being that the sheet of flexible material 462 havesufficient strength and flexibility to satisfy the above requirements.

The sheet of flexible material 462 has an upper side 464 having acentrally disposed recess 466, a lower side 468, a first end portion 470and a second end portion 472 which cooperate to provide the sheet offlexible material 462 with a substantially semi-circular configuration.A plurality of score lines 474 are formed in one surface, such as anupper surface 478 of the sheet of flexible material 462, and extendradially from the centrally disposed recess 466 formed in the upper side464 of the sheet of flexible material 462 in the direction of the firstend portion 470, the lower side 468 and the second end portion 472substantially as shown. The score lines 474 permit the formation of thepleats 461 in the peripheral sidewall 458 of the shape-sustainingsupport member 452 by permitting portions of the peripheral sidewall 458of the shape-sustaining support member 452 to be folded over anadjacently disposed portion of the peripheral sidewall 458. Thus, byforming pleats 461 in the peripheral sidewall 458 of theshape-sustaining support member 452, the diameter of the open upper end454 can be selectively reduced, if desired. The pleats 461 formed in theperipheral sidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452 canbe secured in a stable position by cohesive disposed along each side ofthe score lines 474 provided in the sheet of flexible material 462 suchthat when the pleats 461 are made by folding the sheet of flexiblematerial 462 along the score lines 474, the pleats 461 are bondinglyconnected to an underlying portion of the peripheral sidewall 458 of theshape-sustaining support member 452. It should be understood that thebonding of the pleats 461 to the underlying portion of the peripheralsidewall 458 of the shape-sustaining support member 452 can be achievedin any suitable manner, such as with tape, staples, or any otherconnecting means well known in the art.

The sheet of flexible material 462 is further provided with a connectorassembly 480 for connecting the first end portion 470 of the sheet offlexible material 462 to the second end portion 472 of the sheet offlexible material 462 so as to form the shape-sustaining support member452 substantially as shown in FIG. 33.

The connector assembly 480 comprises a male connector 482 and aplurality of female connectors 484. The male connector 482 extends fromthe upper side 464 of the sheet of material 462 so as to be disposed inclose proximity to the first end portion 40 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 462; and the plurality of female connectors 484 are formed inthe second end portion 472 of the sheet of flexible material 462substantially as shown. The female connectors 484, shown as a pluralityof slits, are spatially disposed along the second end portion 472 of thesheet of flexible material 462 such that at least one female connector484 is adapted to matingly receive the male connector 482 and therebyconnect the first end portion 470 of the sheet of flexible material 462to the second end portion 472 and thus provide the shape-sustainingsupport member 452 shown in FIG. 33.

The male connector 482 is provided with a shank portion 486 and asubstantially arrow-shaped head portion 488. As previously stated, thefemale connectors 484 are spatially disposed along the second endportion 472 of the sheet of flexible material 462 so that each of thefemale connectors 484 can be aligned with the male connector 482 whenthe first end portion 470 of the sheet of flexible material 462 isdisposed over the second end portion 472 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 462 during formation of the shape-sustaining support member452. Thus, upon inserting the head portion 488 of the male connector 482through a selected female connector 484, the circumferential dimensionsof the shape-sustaining support member 452 can be varied.

While the sheet of flexible material 462 has been illustrated as havingonly one male connector 482, it should be understood that a plurality ofmale connectors 482 could be disposed along the upper side 464 of thesheet of flexible material 462 so as to extend between the centrallydisposed recess 466 formed in the upper side 464 of the sheet offlexible material 462 and the first end portion 470 of the sheet offlexible material 462. Further, the configuration of the male connector482 can vary widely, the only requirement being that the male connector482 be adapted to matingly engage and be connected to the femaleconnectors 484 so that the first end portion 470 of the sheet offlexible material 462 can be securely connected to the second endportion 472 of the sheet of flexible material 462 to form theshape-sustaining support member 452 depicted in FIG. 33.

Referring now to FIG. 35, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 490 is shown. The floral holding material 490, when wrappedwith a sheet of fluid impermeable material as hereinbefore described,provides a flexible vase having a substantially rectangularconfiguration. The floral holding material 490 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 492 having a partially open upper end494, an open lower end 496 and a plurality of sidewalls 498 defining aninternal chamber 500 extending between the partially open upper end 494and the open lower end 496. It should be noted that while theshape-sustaining support member 492 has been illustrated as having foursidewalls 498, the number of sidewalls 498 can vary and the number ofsidewalls 498 will determine the geometric configuration of theshape-sustaining support member 492. For example, if theshape-sustaining support member is provided with three sidewalls, theshape-sustaining support member will have a substantially triangularconfiguration; whereas if the shape-sustaining support member isprovided with five sidewalls, the shape-sustaining support member willhave a substantially pentagonal configuration. The shape-sustainingsupport member 492 is further provided with a plurality of substantiallytriangular shaped tabs 502 disposed along the open upper end 494 which,when pressed inwardly as shown, stabilize a floral arrangement, such ascut flowers, within the internal chamber 500 formed within theshape-sustaining support member 492.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 36, the shape-sustaining supportmember 492 is fabricated of a sheet of flexible material 504 which hassufficient flexibility to be formed into the shape-sustaining supportmember 492, sufficient strength to provide the required shape-sustainingproperties to the shape-sustaining support member 492 and sufficientwater resistance to prevent deterioration of the shape-sustainingsupport member 492 when contacted with a fluid, such as water. Thethickness of the sheet of flexible material 504 can vary widely, theonly requirement being that the sheet of flexible material 504 havesufficient strength and flexibility to satisfy the above requirements.

The sheet of flexible material 504 has an upper side 506, a lower side508, a first end portion 510 and a second end portion 512. The pluralityof triangular tabs 502 extend from the upper side 506 of the sheet offlexible material 504 substantially as shown. The substantiallytriangularly shaped tabs 502 are provided with a plurality of spatiallydisposed apertures 513 so that when the sheet of flexible material 504is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 492 and the tabs 502are pressed inwardly into the open upper end 496 of the shape-sustainingmember 492, the stem portion of a floral grouping (not shown) can bedisposed through the apertures 513. A score line 514 is provided alongthe upper side 506 of the sheet of flexible material 504 so as to bedisposed between the upper side 506 of the sheet of flexible material504 and the triangularly shaped tabs 502 for permitting the triangularlyshaped tabs 502 to be pressed inwardly into the open upper end 496 ofthe shape-sustaining member 492 substantially as shown in FIG. 35. Inaddition, the sheet of flexible material 504 is provided with threevertically extending score lines 516 for permitting the sheet offlexible material 504 to be folded to form the sidewalls 498 of theshape-sustaining support member 492.

The sheet of flexible material 504 is further provided with a connectorassembly 518 for connecting the first end portion 510 of the sheet offlexible material 504 to the second end portion 512 thereof so as toform the shape-sustaining support member 492. The connector assembly 518extends along at least a portion of the first end portion 510 so as tobe disposed substantially adjacent an edge thereof and is adapted toconnect to the second end portion 512 of the sheet of flexible material504 to form the shape-sustaining support member 492. Any suitable meanscan be employed as the connector assembly 518, including the connectingassemblies heretofore described. However, especially desirable resultscan be obtained wherein the connector assembly 518 is a strip ofadhesive 520 which extends along the first end portion 510 of the sheetof flexible material 504 between the upper side 506 and the lower side508 thereof substantially as shown. It should be understood that whilethe connector assembly 518 has been shown as a strip of adhesive 520extending between the upper side 506 and the lower side 508 of the sheetof flexible material 504, the adhesive can be in the form of spacedapart strip segments, dots, or any other geometrical configuration. Theonly requirement of the bonding material or any other suitable connectorassembly employed in combination with the sheet of flexible material 504is that the 0 bonding material or connector assembly be adapted tosecurely connect the second end portion 512 to the first end portion 510of the sheet of flexible material 504 to form the shape-sustainingsupport member 492.

Referring now to FIGS. 37 and 38, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 530 is shown. The floral holding material 530 can be wrappedwith a sheet of the fluid impermeable material, such as the sheet offluid impermeable material 62 hereinbefore described, to provide aflexible vase similar to the flexible vase 60 in the manner hereinbeforedescribed. The floral holding material 530 comprises a preformedshape-sustaining support member 532 having an open upper end 534, anopen lower end 536 and a peripheral sidewall 538 defining an internalchamber 540 extending between the open upper end 534 and the open lowerend 536. A plurality of score lines, such as score lines 542 and 544,are formed in the peripheral sidewall 538 and extend between the openupper end 534 and the open lower end 536 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 532. The score lines 542 and 544 permita portion of the peripheral sidewall 538 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 532 to be folded over an adjacentlydisposed portion of the peripheral sidewall 538 substantially as shownin FIG. 38 to reduce the diameter of the open upper end 534, the openlower end 536 and the internal chamber 540 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 532. The overlapped portion or pleat 546formed in the peripheral sidewall 538 can then be secured in a stableposition by strips of cohesive 548 disposed along each side of the scorelines 542 and 544 provided in the peripheral sidewall 538 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 532. It should be understoodthat the bonding of the overlapped portion or pleat 546 formed in theperipheral sidewall 538 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member532 to the underlying portion of the peripheral sidewall 538, whilebeing illustrated with the use of strips of cohesive, can be achieved inany suitable manner, such as with an adhesive, tape, staples, or anyother connecting means well known in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 39, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 550 for use in forming a flexible decorative vase isillustrated. The floral holding material 550 comprises a preformedshape-sustaining support member 552 having an open upper end 554, anopen lower end 556 and a peripheral sidewall 558 defining an internalchamber 560 extending between the open upper end 554 and the open lowerend 556. Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 isformed of a substantially rigid material, creases 562 and 564 are formedin the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 552 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 isflattened for transportation and storage substantially as shown in FIG.40. Since it is desirable to expand the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 552 to its substantially original configuration for usein the construction of a flexible vase, and because creases 562 and 564are formed in the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 552, it is necessary to provide amechanism 565 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 552 in its expanded configuration when the preformedshape-sustaining support member 552 has been flattened fortransportation and storage.

The mechanism 565 comprises an elastic member, such as an elastic band566, which is attached to the preformed shape-sustaining support member552 substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 thereof so as toextend between the creases 562 and 564 formed in the peripheral sidewall558 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 552 substantially as shown.Since the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is in its normalexpanded condition prior to flattening, the elastic band 566 is placedunder tension or stretched during flattening of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 552. Thus, when it is desired to use theflattened preformed shape-sustaining support member 552, one merelyremoves the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 from itsshipping or storage carton (not shown) and allows the elastic band 566to contract or resume its unstretched condition whereby the flattenedpreformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is moved to its originalconfiguration substantially as shown in FIG. 39.

Referring now to FIGS. 41 and 42, another embodiment of a mechanism 569for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 in itsexpanded configuration is illustrated. In this embodiment, a first tab570 having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556 ofthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to aportion of the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 552 so as to be substantially adjacent the open lower end556 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552; and a secondtab 572, also having a length greater than the radius of the open lowerend 556 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 isconnected to a portion of the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 552 so as to be disposed opposite thefirst tab 570 and substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 552 substantially as shown.When assembling the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 foruse, one applies sufficient pressure along the creases 562 and 564formed in the peripheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 552 so that the preformed shape-sustaining support member552 is moved from the flattened storage position (FIG. 42) to anoriginal expanded position (FIG. 41). Thereafter, the first and secondtabs 570, 572, which are provided with connectors 574 and 576,respectively, can be interconnected via the connectors 574 and 576 sothat the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is maintained ina configuration substantially as shown in FIG. 41.

Referring now to FIGS. 43 and 44, another embodiment of a mechanism 577for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 in itsexpanded configuration is illustrated. In this embodiment, a first tab578 having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556 ofthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to theperipheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member552 so as to be substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 552; and a second tab 580,also having a length greater than the radius of the open lower end 556of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is connected to theperipheral sidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member552 so as to be substantially adjacent the open lower end 556 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 552 substantially as shown.

The mechanism 577 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 552 further includes a strip of substantially non-elasticmaterial 582 having a length substantially equal to the diameter of theopen lower end 556 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552.The strip of material 582 is connected at one end 584 to the peripheralsidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 so asto be disposed between the creases 562 and 564; and an opposed secondend 586 of the strip of material 582 is connected to the peripheralsidewall 558 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552between the creases 562 and 564. Thus, the strip of material 582 issubstantially normally disposed to the first and second tabs 578 and 580substantially as shown. The first and second tabs 578 and 580 areprovided with connectors 588, 590, respectively, so that the first andsecond tabs 578 and 580 can be connected via the connectors 588 and 590when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 552 is moved from itssubstantially flattened storage position (FIG. 44) to the expandedposition (FIG. 43). Thereafter, the interconnected first and second tabs578 and 580 are connected to a medial portion of the strip of material582 by a connector 592 illustrated by phantom line in FIG. 43.

Referring now to FIGS. 45 and 46, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 594 for use in forming the flexible decorative vase isillustrated. The floral holding material 594 comprises a preformedshape-sustaining support member 596 having an open upper end 598, anopen lower end 600 and a peripheral sidewall 602 defining an internalchamber 604 extending between the open upper end 598 and the open lowerend 600. Because the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 isformed of a substantially rigid material, creases 606 and 608 are formedin the peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 596 when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 isflattened for transportation and storage substantially as shown in FIG.46. Since it is desirable to expand the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 596 to its substantially original configuration for usein the construction of the flexible vase, and because creases 606 and608 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 602 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 596, it is necessary to provide amechanism 610 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 596 in its expanded configuration when the preformedshape-sustaining support member 596 has previously been flattened fortransportation and storage.

The mechanism for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 596 in its expanded configuration is illustrated as comprising aplurality of ring members 612 and 614. In this embodiment, when it isdesirable to assemble the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596by selectively moving the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596from a flattened storage position (FIG. 46) to an expanded position foruse as a floral holding material (FIG. 45), the preformedshape-sustaining support member 596 is expanded and thereafter the ringmember 612 is positioned adjacent the peripheral sidewall 602 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 596 so as to be disposed nearthe open lower end 600 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member596 and the ring member 614 is positioned adjacent the peripheralsidewall 602 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 so asto be disposed near the open upper end 598 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 596 substantially as shown in FIG. 45.The ring members 612 and 614 can be stabilized along the peripheralsidewall 602 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 596 by anysuitable means, such as by frictional engagement or by application of anadhesive or cohesive. If desired, the ring members 612 and 614 can beused in conjunction with the mechanisms 565, 569 and 577 hereinbeforedescribed for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining support member552 in the expanded position.

Referring now to FIGS. 47 and 48, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 620 is illustrated. The floral holding material 620 comprises apreformed shape-sustaining support member 622 having an open upper end624, an open lower end 626 and a peripheral sidewall 628 defining aninternal chamber 630 extending between the open upper end 624 and theopen lower end 626. Because the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 622 is formed of a substantially rigid material, creases 632 and634 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 628 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 622 when the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 622 is flattened for transportation and storagesubstantially as shown in FIG. 48. Since it is desirable to expand thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 622 to its substantiallyoriginal configuration for use in the construction of a flexible vase,and because the creases 632 and 634 formed in the peripheral sidewall628 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 tend to distortthe expanded configuration of the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 622, it is necessary to provide a mechanism 636 for stabilizingthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 in its expandedconfiguration.

The mechanism 636 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 662 in its expanded configuration comprises a locking tab 638formed in the peripheral sidewall 628 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 622 which is selectively movable into a portion of theinternal chamber 630 defined by the peripheral sidewall 628 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 622.

The locking tab 638 is formed by providing a pair of substantiallyparallel horizontally disposed slits 640 and 642 formed in theperipheral sidewall 628 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member622. Thus, when the preformed shape-sustaining support member 622 isexpanded from a flattened storage position (FIG. 48) to an expandedposition for use as the floral holding material 620, the locking tab 638is forced inwardly into the internal chamber 630 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 622 so as to stabilize the preformedshape-sustaining support member 622 in its expanded positionsubstantially as shown in FIG. 47.

Referring now to FIGS. 49 and 50, a floral holding material 650 for usein forming a flexible decorative vase is illustrated. The floral holdingmaterial 650 comprises a preformed shape-sustaining support member 652having an open upper end 654, an open lower end 656 and a peripheralsidewall 658 defining an internal chamber 660 extending between the openupper end 654 and the open lower end 656. Because the preformedshape-sustaining support member 652 is formed of a substantially rigidmaterial, creases 662 and 664 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 658of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 when the preformedshape-sustaining support member 652 is flattened for transportation andstorage substantially as shown in FIG. 50. Since it is desirable toexpand the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 to itssubstantially original configuration for use as the floral holdingmaterial 650, and especially when used in the construction of a flexiblevase, and because creases 662 and 664 are formed in the peripheralsidewall 658 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652, it isnecessary to provide a mechanism 665 for stabilizing the preformedshape-sustaining support member 652 in its expanded configuration.

As shown in FIG. 50, a circumferentially disposed groove 668 is formedin the peripheral sidewall 658 of the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 652 so as to be disposed substantially intermediate the openupper end 654 and the open lower end 656 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 652. An elastomeric member 670 (FIG. 49)is positioned within the groove 668 for stabilizing the preformedshape-sustaining support member 652 in its normal expanded position. Itshould be noted that while the groove 668 has been shown as beingdisposed substantially intermediate the open upper end 654 and the openlower end 656 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652, thegroove 668 can be formed in the peripheral sidewall 658 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 652 at a variety of positions. Further,if desired, more than one groove 668 can be formed in the peripheralsidewall 658 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 652 andthe number of elastomeric members 670 will correspond to the number ofgrooves 668 formed therein.

Referring now to FIG. 51, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 674 is illustrated. The floral holding material 674 comprises apreformed shape-sustaining support member 676 having an open upper end678, an open lower end 679, and a peripheral sidewall 680 defining aninternal chamber (not shown) which extends between the open upper end678 and the open lower end 679. The preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 676 is thus substantially identical in construction to thepreformed shape-sustaining member 596 hereinbefore described withreference to FIGS. 45 and 46. Because the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 676 is formed of a substantially rigid material, creasessuch as crease 682 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 680 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 676 when the preformedshape-sustaining support member 676 is flattened for transportation andstorage. Since it is desirable to expand the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 676 to its substantially original configuration for useas the floral holding material 674, it is desirable to provide amechanism 684 whereby the preformed shape-sustaining support member 676can be stabilized in its original expanded configuration.

Referring now to FIGS. 52 and 53, a floral holding material 696 isillustrated. The floral holding material 696 comprises a preformedshape-sustaining member 698 having an open upper end 700, an open lowerend 702 and a peripheral sidewall 704 defining an internal chamber 706extending between the open upper end 700 and the open lower end 702. Thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 698 is formed of asubstantially rigid member having sufficient memory such that thepreformed shape-sustaining member 698 can be moved between a flattenedcondition (FIG. 53) and an expanded position (FIG. 52). Since it isdesirable to flatten the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 fortransportation and storage, and since the preformed shape-sustainingmember 698 is formed of a material having sufficient memory to restorethe preformed shape-sustaining support member 698 to its expandedposition, a locking assembly 708 is provided for maintaining thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 698 in a flattened conditionduring transportation and storage.

The locking assembly 708 comprises a male connector 710 and a femaleconnector 712. The male connector 710 is disposed along a portion of theperipheral sidewall 704 so as to be opposite the position of the femaleconnector 712 such that upon connecting the male connector 710 to thefemale connector 712, the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 issecured in a folded position substantially as shown in FIG. 53. The maleconnector 710 is illustrated as a lug or stud 714 which extends from theperipheral sidewall 704 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 698 andinto the internal chamber 706 of the preformed shape-sustaining member698. The female connector 712 is an aperture 716 formed in theperipheral sidewall 704 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member698 and positioned so as to matingly receive the lug or stud 714 whenthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 698 is moved to its foldedposition.

Referring now to FIGS. 54 and 55, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 720 is illustrated. The floral holding material 720 comprises apreformed shape-sustaining support member 722 having an open upper end724, an open lower end 726 and a peripheral sidewall 728 defining aninternal chamber 730 extending between the open upper end 724 and theopen lower end 726. Because the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 722 is formed of a substantially rigid material, creases 732 and734 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 722 when the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 722 is flattened for transportation and storagesubstantially as shown in FIG. 55. Since it is desirable to expand thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 722 to its substantiallyoriginal configuration for use in the construction of a flexible vase,and because the creases 732 and 734 formed in the peripheral sidewall728 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 tend to distortthe expanded configuration of the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 722, it is desirable to provide a mechanism 736 for stabilizingthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 in its desiredexpanded configuration.

The mechanism 736 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 722 in the expanded configuration (FIG. 54) comprises a first tab738 formed in the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 722 and a second tab 740 formed in theperipheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member722 such that the first and second tabs 738 and 740 are laterallyaligned, and a distal end 742 of the first tab 738 and a distal end 744of the second tab 740 terminate at the crease 734 formed in theperipheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustaining member 722.That is, the first tab 738 is defined by a pair of substantiallyparallel, horizontally disposed slits 746 and 748 and a substantiallyvertically disposed slit (not shown) in the peripheral sidewall 738 ofthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 722; and the second tab740 is defined by a pair of substantially parallel, horizontallydisposed slits 752 and 754 and the substantially vertically disposedslit (not shown).

When assembling the preformed shape-sustaining support member 722 foruse, one applies sufficient pressure along the creases 732 and 734formed in the peripheral sidewall 728 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 722 so that the preformed shape-sustaining support member722 is moved from the flattened storage position (FIG. 55) to anexpanded position (FIG. 54). Thereafter, the first and second tabs 738and 740, which are provided with connectors 752 and 754 near theirrespective distal ends 742 and 744, can be interconnected via theconnectors 752 and 754 so that the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 722 is secured in a configuration substantially as shown in FIG.54.

Referring now to FIGS. 56-58, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 760 is shown. The floral holding material 760 comprises apreformed shape-sustaining support member 762 having an open upper end764, an open lower end 766 and a peripheral sidewall 767 defining aninternal chamber 768 extending between the open upper end 764 and theopen lower end 766. Because the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 762 is formed of a substantially rigid material, creases 770 and772 are formed in the peripheral sidewall 767 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 762 when the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 762 is flattened for transportation and storagesubstantially as shown in FIGS. 57 and 58. Since it is desirable toexpand the preformed shape-sustaining support member 762 to itssubstantially original configuration for use in the construction of aflexible vase, and because the creases 770 and 772 formed in theperipheral sidewall 766 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member762 tend to distort the expanded configuration of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 762, it is necessary to provide amechanism 774 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 762 in its desired expanded configuration.

The mechanism 774 for stabilizing the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 762 in its expanded configuration comprises a locking tab 776formed in the peripheral sidewall 767 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 762.

The locking tab 776 is formed by a pair of substantially parallelhorizontally disposed slits 778 and 780 and a substantially verticallydisposed slit 782 formed in the peripheral sidewall 766 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member 762. The vertical slit 782 extendingbetween the horizontally disposed slits 778, 780 is provided along thecrease 772 formed in the peripheral sidewall 766 of the preformedshape-sustaining support member as a result of flattening the preformedshape-sustaining support member 762 for transportation and storage. Adistal end 786 of the locking tab 776 is provided with a slit 788 formednear the distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 via one of an upper edgeor a lower edge of the locking tab 776. A slit 790 is formed in theperipheral sidewall 766 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member762 in close proximity to the crease 772; and the slit 790 is adapted tomatingly receive the distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 so that theslit 788 formed near the distal end 786 of the locking tab 776 can bematingly engaged and secured to the peripheral sidewall 766 adjacent theslit 790 substantially as shown. Thus, to stabilize the preformedshape-sustaining support member 762 in its substantially originalconfiguration for use in the construction of a flexible vase as shown inFIG. 56, the locking tab 776 is positioned across a portion of theinternal chamber 768 adjacent the slot formed by formation of thelocking tab 776 and the distal end 786 is positioned through the slit790 such that the locking tab 776 is connected to the portion of theperipheral sidewall 766 adjacent the slit 790 substantially as shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 59 and 60, a floral holding material 800 isshown. The floral holding material 800 comprises a preformedshape-sustaining support member 802 having an open upper end 804, anopen lower end 806 and a peripheral sidewall 808 defining an internalchamber 810 extending between the open upper end 804 and the open lowerend 806. A plurality of circumferentially extending perforations 812 areformed in the peripheral sidewall 808 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 802 so as to be spatially disposed relative to each otherand from the open upper end 804 of the preformed shape-sustainingsupport member 802 substantially as shown. Thus, the overall height ofthe preformed shape-sustaining support member 802 can readily be reducedby tearing or cutting the preformed shape-sustaining support member 802along a selected one of the circumferentially extending perforations812.

Referring now to FIGS. 61-63, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 820 is illustrated. The floral holding material 820 comprises apreformed shape-sustaining support member 822 having an open upper end824, an open lower end 826 and a peripheral sidewall 828 defining aninternal chamber 830 extending between the open upper end 824 and theopen lower end 826. A circumferentially disposed groove 832 is formed inthe peripheral sidewall 828 so as to be disposed near the open upper end824 of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 822. An elasticband 834, which is in a stretched condition, is positioned within thecircumferentially disposed groove 832 substantially as shown in FIGS. 61and 62.

When utilizing the floral holding material 820, stems 836 of a floralarrangement 838 are disposed into the internal chamber 830 of thepreformed shape-sustaining support member 822 via the open upper end 824of the preformed shape-sustaining support member 822. When the stems 836of the floral arrangement 838 have been properly positioned, the elasticband 834 is removed from the circumferentially disposed groove 832formed in the peripheral sidewall 828 of the preformed shape-sustainingmember 822 and positioned about a portion of the stems 836 extendingabove the open upper end 824 of the preformed shape-sustaining supportmember 822 substantially as shown in FIG. 63. Because the elastic band834 is in a stretched condition when disposed within thecircumferentially disposed groove 832, contraction of the band 834 aboutthe stems 836 of the floral arrangement 838 secures the floralarrangement 838 in a substantially stable position when a sheet offlexible material (not shown) is wrapped about the preformedshape-sustaining support member 822 in the manner hereinbefore describedto provide a flexible vase.

Referring no to FIG. 64, a plurality of preformed shape-sustainingsupport members, such as the preformed shape-sustaining support members822, are illustrated supported in a dispenser 840 to facilitate storageof the preformed shape-sustaining support members 822, as well as toprovide easy access to the preformed shape-sustaining support members822. While the dispenser 840 is illustrated as containing the preformedshape-sustaining support members 822, it should be understood that anyof the preformed shape-sustaining members hereinbefore described canlikewise be disposed within a dispenser. Dispensers suitable fordispensing preformed shape-sustaining support members as herein abovedescribed are well known and have been used heretofore for dispensingcups. Thus, no further description of the dispenser 840 is believednecessary.

Referring now to FIG. 65, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 842 which can be employed in the fabrication of a flexible vaseas hereinbefore described is illustrated. The floral holding material842 comprises a preformed shape-sustaining support member 844 having anopen upper end 846, an open lower end (not shown) and a peripheralsidewall 848 defining an internal chamber 850 extending between the openupper end 846 and the open lower end (not shown). A plurality ofapertures 852 are provided in the peripheral sidewall 848 so as to bedisposed about the peripheral sidewall 848 substantially as shown. Eachof the apertures 850 is adapted to receive a stem portion (not shown) ofa floral grouping for stabilizing the floral grouping relative to thefloral holding material 842.

Embodiment of FIGS. 66-68

Shown in FIG. 66 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 854 constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 854 comprises asheet of fluid impermeable material 856 wrapped about a floral holdingmaterial 858 and secured about the floral holding material 858 by a band860. As will be more fully described in detail herein after, the sheetof fluid impermeable material 856 and the floral holding material 858cooperate to define a reservoir 862 in the flexible vase 854. Thus, tostore floral groupings, such as cut flowers 864 having stem portions 866and bloom portions 868, the stem portions 866 of the cut flowers 864 aredisposed into the reservoir 862 of the flexible vase 854 and thereservoir 862 is then filled with a suitable fluid, such as water.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 may be of any shape such asa rectangle as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, or a square or any othergeometric configuration. Further, the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 856 may be constructed of a single layer of material or aplurality of layers of the same or different types of material as longas at least one of the sheets of material, preferably the sheet ofmaterial disposed substantially adjacent the floral holding material 858is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizing more than onelayer of material as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856, thesheets of material may be connected together, laminated or maintained asseparate sheets of material. The thickness of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 856 can vary widely, the only requirements beingthat the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 have sufficientstrength so that the flexible vase 854 formed from the floral holdingmaterial 858 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 is capableof holding water disposed in the reservoir 862 of the flexible vase 854and to permit the flexible vase 854 to be transported and displayed, andthat the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 be wrappable about thefloral holding material 858 as described in detail hereinafter.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 is disposed about the floralholding material 858 to form a decorative cover 870 about the floralholding material 858. The decorative cover 870 extends a distance abovethe floral holding material 858 such that an upper end portion 872 ofthe floral holding material 858 remains substantially uncovered by thedecorative cover 870. Thus, when a floral grouping, such as cut flowers864, is positioned within the reservoir 862 of the flexible vase 854, anupper portion of the stem portions 866 and the bloom portions 868 of thecut flowers 864 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 872 of thefloral holding material 858.

A crimped portion 874 can be formed in the decorative cover 870 near theupper end portion 872 of the floral holding material 858. The crimpedportion 874, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formed bycrimping together portions of the decorative cover 870. The crimpedportion 874 can also be formed by placing the band 860 about a portionof the decorative cover 870, in which case the band 860 gathers orbrings together portions of the decorative cover 870 and pulls portionsof the decorative cover 870 toward the upper end portion 872 of thefloral holding material 858 to form the crimped portion 874substantially as shown.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 may also have a bondingmaterial (not shown) disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposedportions of the decorative cover 870 forming the crimped portion 874.More particularly, the bonding material may be disposed on at least oneof an upper surface or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 856 so as to be disposed a distance radially from acentral portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856. Thebonding material, which is in the form of a continuous strip or spots orspaced apart strips or of any geometric design, is desirably a pressuresensitive adhesive or a cohesive. However, if desired, the crimpedportion 874 of the decorative cover 870 could be connected by the use ofheat sealing, a heat sealing lacquer which may be applied to the sheetof fluid impermeable material 856 and which requires heat to effect thebonding, or any other type of material which may be used to effectbonding of adjacently disposed portions of the decorative cover 870defining the crimped portion 874.

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 67 and 68, the floral holdingmaterial 858 is a substantially frustoconical shape-sustaining supportmember 876 (FIG. 66) (which is also referred to herein as theshape-sustaining support member 876) formed of a sheet of flexiblematerial 878 which has sufficient flexibility to permit the sheet offlexible material 878 to be formed into the shape-sustaining supportmember 876, sufficient strength to provide the required shape-sustainingproperties to the shape-sustaining support member 876 and issufficiently fluid resistant to prevent deterioration of theshape-sustaining support member 876 when contacted with a fluid, such aswater. The shape-sustaining support member 876 formed from the sheet offlexible material 878 is identical in construction to theshape-sustaining support member 140 hereinbefore described withreference to FIG. 15. The sheet of flexible material 878 is disposed onthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 in a preselected locationsuch that, upon forming the sheet of flexible material 878 into theshape-sustaining support member 876, the shape-sustaining support member876 is substantially centrally positioned on and secured to the sheet offluid impermeable material 856.

The sheet of flexible material 878 has an upper side 880 having acentrally disposed recess 882, a lower side 884, a first end portion 886and a second end portion 888 which cooperate to provide the sheet offlexible material 878 with a substantially semi-circular configuration.The sheet of flexible material 878 is connected to the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 856 so that, upon forming the sheet of flexiblematerial 878 into the shape-sustaining support member 876, the sheet offluid impermeable material 856 can be easily wrapped about theshape-sustaining support member 876 to form the flexible vase 854. Thelower side 884 of the sheet of flexible material 878 may be connected tothe sheet of fluid impermeable material 856 by a strip of tape 890 orother suitable bonding means substantially as shown in FIG. 67, or thesheet of flexible material 878 may be connected to the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 856 by an adhesive 892 disposed between the sheetof flexible material 878 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 856such that the adhesive 892 extends along a central portion of the sheetof flexible material 878 between the centrally disposed recess 882formed in the upper side 880 of the sheet of flexible material 878 andthe lower side 884 of the sheet of flexible material 878 as shown inFIG. 68.

The sheet of flexible material 878 is further provided with a connectorassembly 894 for connecting the first end portion 886 of the sheet offlexible material 878 to the second end portion 888 of the sheet offlexible material 878 when the sheet of flexible material 878 is formedinto the shape-sustaining support member 876. The connector assembly 894comprises a male connector 896 disposed along the upper side 880 of thesheet of flexible material 878 and a plurality of female connectors 898disposed in the second end portion 888 of the sheet of flexible material878 such that at least one female connector 898 is adapted to matinglyreceive the male connector 896 and thereby connect the first end portion886 of the sheet of flexible material 878 to the second end portion 888of the sheet of flexible material 878 and thus provide theshape-sustaining support member 876.

Once the shape-sustaining support member 876 has been formed, the sheetof fluid impermeable material 856 is the extended about a peripheralsidewall (not shown) of the shape-sustaining support member 876 toprovide the flexible vase 854 shown in FIG. 66.

Embodiment of FIGS. 69-70

Shown if FIG. 69 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 902 constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 902 comprises asheet of fluid impermeable material 904 wrapped about a floral holdingmaterial 906. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter, thesheet of fluid impermeable material 904 and the floral holding material806 cooperate to define a reservoir 908 in the flexible vase 902. Thus,to store floral groupings, such as cut flowers (not shown), stemportions of the cut flowers are disposed into the reservoir 908 of theflexible vase 902 and the reservoir 908 is then filled with a suitablefluid, such as water.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 is shown as having aconfiguration of a square. However, it should be understood that thesheet of fluid impermeable material 904 may be of any shape such as arectangle or any other geometric configuration. Further, the sheet offluid impermeable material 904 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterial as long as at least one of the sheets of material, preferablythe sheet of material disposed substantially adjacent the floral holdingmaterial 906 is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizingmore than one layer of material as the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 904, the sheets of material may be connected together,laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. The thickness ofthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 can vary widely, the onlyrequirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 havesufficient strength so that the flexible vase 902 formed from the floralholding material 906 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 iscapable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 908 of the flexiblevase 902.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 is disposed about the floralholding material 906 to form a decorative cover 910 about the floralholding material 906. The decorative cover 910 extends a distance abovethe floral holding material 906 such that an upper end portion 912 ofthe floral holding material 906 remains substantially uncovered by thedecorative cover 910.

A crimped portion 914 is formed in the decorative cover 910 generallyabove the floral holding material 906 substantially as shown in FIG. 69.The crimped portion 914 is formed by crimping together portions of thedecorative cover 910 and the crimped portions 914 can be securedtogether by a bonding material, such as a plurality of strips of anadhesive or cohesive 916 as illustrated in FIG. 70.

Referring now to FIG. 70, the floral holding material 906 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 918 formed of a base 920 and a pluralityof radially extending arms 922. The radially extending arms 922 areconnected to the base 920 such that the radially extending arms 922 canbe pivoted in an upward direction. For example, score lines 923 can beprovided between the base 920 and the radially extending arms 922 tofacilitate the desired pivotal movement of the radially extending arms922. It should be understood that while the shape-sustaining supportmember 918 is illustrated as having four radially extending arms 922,the number of radially extending arms 922 can vary and the number ofradially extending arms 922 will depend on the configuration of theflexible vase 902. That is, three or more radially extending arms 922can be used in the formation of the shape-sustaining support member 918.

The base 920 and the radially extending arms 922 are formed of aflexible material, such as a plastic material, waterproof cardboard andthe like. The base 920 and at least a portion of the radially extendingarms 922 near a distal end portion 924 of the radially extending arms922 are secured to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 so thatthe base 920 is substantially centrally disposed thereon. The sheet offluid impermeable material 904 is gathered about the base 920 to providean excess amount of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 aboutthe base 920 such that, when the radially extending arms 922 are movedto an upwardly extending position to provide the shape-sustainingsupport member 918 with a predetermined configuration, the excess of thesheet of fluid impermeable material 904 prevents the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 904 from tearing or becoming disconnected from theradially extending arms 922. Once the radially extending arms 922 havemoved to an upwardly extending position as shown in phantom in FIG. 69,a connector assembly 925 is connected to the distal end portion 924 ofeach of the radially extending arms 922 so that the radially extendingarms 922 are interconnected and stabilized in the upright position.

The connector assembly 925 comprises a stud or shank 926 formed on thedistal end portion 924 of each of the radially extending arms 922 and aflexible strap member 928 having a plurality of spatially disposedopenings 930 formed therein such that, in a connected position, each ofthe studs or shanks 926 provided on the distal end portion 924 of theradially extending arms 922 are disposed in an opening 930 of the strapmember 928.

To form the flexible vase 902 shown in FIG. 69, one selectively movesthe radially extending arm 922 to a properly disposed position andthereafter secures the flexible strap member 928 to the studs 926 on thedistal end portion 924 of each of the radially extending arms 922. Byselectively moving the radially extending arms 922 in an upwardposition, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904 is formed aboutthe shape-sustaining support member 918 (i.e. the base 920 and theradially extending arms 922). The distal end portions 924 of theradially extending arms 922 are then interconnected by the flexiblestrap member 928 and the crimped portion 914 is formed in the decorativecover 910 by crimping together portions of the decorative cover 910whereby the crimped portions 914 are secured together by the bondingmaterial 916 disposed on the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904.

The bonding material 916 is shown in FIG. 70 as a plurality of arcuateshaped strips positioned on the sheet of fluid impermeable material 904so as to be disposed in close proximity to the distal end portion 924 ofeach of the radially extending arms 922. However, it should beunderstood that the bonding material 916 can be in the form of acontinuous strip as shown in FIG. 11, or as a plurality of spatiallydisposed spots.

Embodiment of FIGS. 71-72

Shown in FIG. 71 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 932constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase932 comprises a sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 wrapped about afloral holding material 936. The sheet of fluid impermeable material 934and the floral holding material 936 cooperate to define a reservoir 938in the flexible vase 932. Thus, to store floral groupings, such as cutflowers (not shown), stem portions of the cut flowers are disposed intothe reservoir 938 of the flexible vase 932 and the reservoir 938 is thenfilled with a suitable fluid, such as water.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is shown as having asubstantially square configuration. However, it should be understoodthat the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 may be of any shape,such as a rectangle or any other geometric configuration. Further, thesheet of fluid impermeable material 934 may be constructed of a singlelay of material or a plurality of layers of the same or different typesof material as long as at least one of the sheets of material,preferably the sheet of material disposed adjacent the floral holdingmaterial 936, is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizingmore than one layer of material as the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 934, the sheets of material may be connected together,laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. The thickness ofthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 can vary widely, the onlyrequirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 havesufficient strength so that the flexible vase 932 formed from the floralholding material 936 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 iscapable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 938 of the flexiblevase 932.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 is disposed about the floralholding material 936 to form a decorative cover 940 about the floralholding material 936. The decorative cover 940 extends a distance abovethe floral holding material 936 such that an upper end portion 942 ofthe floral holding material 936 remains substantially uncovered 940.

A crimped portion 944 is formed in the decorative cover 940 generallyabove the floral holding material 936 substantially as shown in FIG. 71.The crimped portion 944 is formed by crimping together portions of thedecorative cover 940 formed of the sheet of fluid impermeable material934 and the crimped portions 944 are secured together by a bondingmaterial, such as an adhesive or cohesive 946 as illustrated in FIG. 72.

Referring now to FIG. 72, the floral holding material 936 comprises ashape-sustaining support member 948 formed of a base 950 and a pluralityof substantially parabolically shaped radially extending arms 952. Theradially extending arms 952 are connected to the base 950 such that theradially extending arms 952 can be pivoted in an upward direction. Itshould be understood that while the shape-sustaining support member 948is illustrated as having four substantially parabolically shapedradially extending arms 952, the number of radially extending arms 952can vary and will depend on the configuration of the flexible vase 932.That is, three or more substantially parabolically shaped radiallyextending arms 952 can be used in the formation of the shape-sustainingsupport member 948. The base 950 and the radially extending arms 952 areformed of a flexible shape-sustaining material, such as a plasticmaterial, water-proof cardboard and the like. The base 950 and a distalend portion 954 of each of the radially extending arms 952 are securedto the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 so that the base 950 issubstantially centrally disposed thereon. The sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 934 is provided with a gathered portion 955 between the base950 and the distal end portions 954 of the radially extending arms 952such that when the radially extending arms 952 are moved to an upwardlyextending position during formation of the shape-sustaining supportmember 948, the excess of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934prevents the sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 from tearing orbecoming disconnected from the radially extending arms 952. Once theradially extending arms 952 have been moved to an upwardly extendingposition as shown in phantom in FIG. 71, the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 934 is crimped above the distal end portions 954 of theradially extending arms 952 such that the bonding material disposed onthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 934 substantially adjacent thedistal end portions 954 of the radially extending arms 952 bonds thecrimped portion 944 and the distal end portions 954 of each of theradially extending arms 952 so as to secure the radially extending arms952 in the desired upright position.

When it is desired to provide a stack of sheets of fluid impermeablematerial 934 having the shape-sustaining support member 948 disposedthereon in a non-assembled condition, one can readily utilize a releasematerial disposed between each of the sheets of fluid impermeablematerial 934 forming the stack to ensure that the bonding material 946does not adhere to an adjacently disposed sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 934 and thereby enhance removal of individual sheets of fluidimpermeable material 934 from the stack of such materials.

Embodiment of FIGS. 73-74

Shown in FIG. 73 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 960constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase960 comprises a sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 wrapped about afloral holding material 964. As will be more fully described in detailhereinafter, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 and the floralholding material 964 cooperate to define a reservoir 968 in the flexiblevase 960.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 may be of any shape, such asa square as shown in FIG. 74, or a rectangle or any other geometricconfiguration. Further, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 maybe constructed of a single lay of material or a plurality of layers ofthe same or different types of material as long as at least one of thesheets of material, preferably the sheet of material disposed adjacentthe floral holding material 964 is impermeable to a fluid, such aswater. When utilizing more than one layer of material as the sheet offluid impermeable material 962, the sheets of material may be connectedtogether, laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. Thethickness of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 can varywidely, the only requirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 962 have sufficient strength so that the flexible vase 960formed from the floral holding material 964 and the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 962 is capable of holding water disposed in thereservoir 968 of the flexible vase 960, permits floral groups disposedin the flexible vase 960 to be transported and displayed, and the sheetof fluid impermeable material 962 can be wrapped about the floralholding material 964 as described in detail hereinafter.

While the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 has been shown in FIG.74 as a single sheet of material, it should be understood that a pad ofsheets of fluid impermeable material 962 may be utilized to enhanceassembly of a plurality of flexible vases 960, or a roll of fluidimpermeable material 962 may be provided so that the sheets of fluidimpermeable material 962 can readily be obtained by cutting a sheet ofmaterial from the roll of material or by providing perforations in theroll of material to facilitate removal of the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 962.

Referring now to FIG. 74, the floral holding material 964 comprises aplurality of substantially triangularly shaped support members 972secured to an upper surface 974 of the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 962 with a suitable bonding material (not shown). Thetriangularly shaped support members 972 cooperate to provide the floralholding material 964 with a substantially square shaped outer periphery976 which is disposed a distance 978 from an outer periphery 980 of thesheet of fluid impermeable material 962. Thus, a substantiallysquare-shaped opening 982 is provided between the triangularly shapedsupport members 972.

To secure the triangularly shaped support members 972 in an upwardlyextending position to provide the configuration of the flexible vase960, a bonding material 984 is disposed on the upper surface 974 of thesheet of fluid impermeable material 962 so as to extend along a portionof a first and a second side 986 and 988 of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 962 and substantially adjacent a portion of theouter periphery 980 of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 adistance 990 from the adjacently disposed triangularly shaped supportmembers 972; and a bonding material 992 is disposed on the upper surface974 of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 so as to extend alonga portion of a third and fourth side 994 and 996 of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 962 and substantially adjacent a portion of theouter periphery 980 of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 962 adistance 998 for the adjacently disposed triangularly shaped supportmembers 972. The bonding material 984 and 992 permits the gathering ofthe portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable 972 disposed above thetriangularly shaped support member 962 when same are moved to anupwardly extending position to provide the floral holding material 964of the flexible vase 960 substantially as shown in FIG. 73.

The bonding material 984 and 992 is desirably a cohesive. However, itshould be understood that staples, brads, ribbons elastic bands, tiesand the like can be used to secure the triangularly shaped supportmembers 972 in the desired form of the floral holding material 964.

Embodiment of FIGS. 75-77

Shown in FIG. 75 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 1000constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase1000 comprises a sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 wrapped abouta floral holding material 1004 and secured about the floral holdingmaterial 1004 by a band 1006. As will be more fully described in detailhereinafter, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 and the floralholding material 1004 cooperate to define a reservoir 1008 in theflexible vase 1000. Thus, to store floral groupings, such as cut flowers1010 having stem portions 1012 and bloom portions 1014, the stemportions 1012 of the cut flowers 1010 are disposed into the reservoir1008 of the flexible vase 1000 and the reservoir 1008 is then filledwith a suitable fluid, such as water.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 is similar in constructionas the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 herein before described indetail with reference to FIG. 11. The sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 1002 is disposed about the floral holding material 1004 to forma decorative cover 1018 about the floral holding material 1004. Thedecorative cover 1018 extends a distance above the floral holdingmaterial 1004 such that an upper end portion 1020 of the floral holdingmaterial 1004 remains substantially uncovered by the decorative cover1018. Thus, when a floral grouping such as cut flowers 1010 ispositioned within the reservoir 1008 of the flexible vase 1000, an upperportion of the stem portions 1012 and the bloom portions 1014 of the cutflowers 1010 extend outwardly from the upper end portion 1020 of thefloral holding material 1004.

A crimped portion 1022 can be formed in the decorative cover 1018 nearthe upper end portion 1020 of the floral holding material 1004. Thecrimped portion 1022 can be formed by crimping together portions of thedecorative cover 1018. The crimped portion 1022 can also be formed byplacing the band 1006 about a portion of the decorative cover 1018, inwhich case the band 1006 gathers or brings together portions of thedecorative cover 1018 and pulls portions of the decorative cover 1018toward the upper end portion 1020 of the floral holding material 1004 toform the crimped portion 1022 substantially as shown. The sheet of fluidimpermeable material 1002 may also have a bonding material (not shown)disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposed portions of thedecorative cover 1018 forming the crimped portion 1022.

Referring now to FIG. 76, shown therein is the floral holding material1004 formed into the substantially frustoconical shape-sustainingsupport member 1024. The substantially frustoconical shape-sustainingsupport member 1024 has an open upper end 1025, an open lower end 1026and a peripheral sidewall 1027 defining an internal chamber 1028extending between the open upper end 1025 and the open lower end 1026.The floral holding material 1004 comprises a flexible bag 1029 disposedwithin the internal chamber 1028 of the substantially frustoconicalshape-sustaining support member 1024, the flexible bag 1029 and theinternal chamber 1028 cooperating to define the reservoir 1008 of theflexible vase 1000.

The substantially frustoconical shape-sustaining support member 1024 isfabricated of a sheet of flexible material 1036 (FIG. 77) which hassufficient flexibility to permit the sheet of flexible material 1036 tobe formed into the substantially frustoconical shape-sustaining supportmember 1024 and sufficient strength to provide the requiredshape-sustaining properties to the substantially frustoconicalshape-sustaining support member 1024. The thickness of the sheet offlexible material 1036 can vary widely, the only requirements being thatthe sheet of flexible material 1036 have sufficient strength andflexibility to satisfy the above requirements. Examples of materialspossessing the above-identified properties which may be used as thesheet of flexible material 1036 for fabrication of the substantiallyfrustoconical shape-sustaining support member 1024 are polymericmaterials, metals, cardboards and the like.

The sheet of flexible material 1036 has an upper side 1038 having acentrally disposed recess 1040, a lower side 1042, a first end portion1044 and a second end portion 1046 which cooperate to provide the sheetof flexible material 1036 with a substantially semi-circularconfiguration. The flexible bag 1029 is desirably secured to an uppersurface 1048 of the sheet of flexible material 1036 with a suitablebonding material such that when the sheet of flexible material 1036 isformed into the shape-sustaining support member 1024, a lower end orbottom wall 1050 of the flexible bag 1034 is substantially aligned withthe open lower end 1028 of the shape-sustaining support member 1024 andan upper end portion 1052 of the flexible bag 1034 extends outwardlyfrom the open upper end 1026 of the substantially frustoconicalshape-sustaining support member 1024 substantially as shown in FIG. 76.

The sheet of flexible material 1036 is further provided with a connectorassembly 1054 for connecting the first and second end portions 1044 and1046 of the sheet of flexible material 1036 when the sheet of flexiblematerial 1036 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1024substantially as shown in FIG. 76. The connector assembly 1054 comprisesa male connector 1056 disposed along the upper side 1038 of the sheet offlexible material 1036 and a plurality of female connectors 1058 formedin the second end portion 1046 of the sheet of flexible material 1036such that at least one female connector 1058 is adapted to matinglyreceive the male connector 1056 and thereby connect the first endportion 1044 of the sheet of flexible material 1036 to the second endportion 1046 of the sheet of material 1036.

The plurality of female connectors 1058 are illustrated as spatiallydisposed slits provided in the second end portion 1046 of the sheet ofmaterial 1036 so that each of the female connectors 1058 is alignablewith the male connector 1056 when the first end portion 1044 of thesheet of flexible material 1036 is disposed over the second end portion1046 of the sheet of flexible material 1036 during formation of theshape-sustaining support member 1024. Thus, upon inserting the maleconnector 1056 into a selected female connector 1058, thecircumferential dimensions of the shape-sustaining support member 1024can be varied.

Once the sheet of flexible material 1036 has been formed with thesubstantially frustoconical shape-sustaining support member 1024 asdescribed above, the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1036 is thenwrapped about the substantially frustoconical shape-sustaining supportmember 1024 to provide the flexible vase 1000. It should be noted thatthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 1002 can be bondingly connectedto the sheet of flexible material 1036 in the manner herein beforedescribed with reference to FIGS. 67 and 68.

Embodiment of FIGS. 78-80

Referring now to FIG. 78, another embodiment of a flexible vase 1060constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. Theflexible vase 1060 comprises a sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062wrapped about a self-erecting floral holding container 1064. The sheetof fluid impermeable material 1062 and the self-erecting floral holdingcontainer 1064 cooperate to define a reservoir 1066 in the flexible vase1060 which is capable of holding a fluid, such as water. The sheet offluid impermeable material 1062 is substantially identical inconstruction as the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62 herein beforedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 11.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 is disposed about thefloral holding container 1064 to form a decorative cover 1068 about thefloral holding container 1064 which extends a distance above the floralholding container 1064 such that an opening 1070 formed in an upper end1072 of the floral holding container 1064 remains substantiallyuncovered by the decorative cover 1068.

A crimped portion 1074 can be provided in the decorative cover 1068 nearthe upper end 1072 of the floral holding container 1064. The crimpedportion 1074 can be formed by crimping together portions of thedecorative cover 1068 and, if desired, the crimped portion can beconnected with a suitable bonding material such as a cohesive 1075 (FIG.80). The crimped portions 1074 can also be found by placing a band (notshown) about a portion of the decorative cover 1068 in which case theband gathers or brings together portions of the decorative cover 1068 toform the crimped portion 1074.

Referring now to FIGS. 79 and 80, the self-erecting floral holdingcontainer 1064 is illustrated in a collapsed position disposed on thesheet of fluid impermeable material 1062. The self-erecting floralholding container 1064 comprises a top member 1076, a bottom member1078, a plurality of wall members (only one being designated by thereference numeral 1080), a bracket 1082 and a plurality of elasticmembers (only one being designated by the reference numeral 1084).

Each wall member 1080 has a top hinge 1086, a wall hinge 1088 and abottom hinge 1090. Each top hinge 1086 allows the corresponding wallmember 1080 to pivot with respect to the top member 1076. Each wallhinge 1088 allows the corresponding wall member 1080 to bend outward anddefine an upper wall section 1092 and a lower wall section 1094.Similarly, each bottom hinge 1090 allows the corresponding wall member1080 to pivot with respect to the bottom member 1078 of the floralholding container 1064.

With this construction, the floral holding container 1064 may assume anerected position (FIG. 78) when an external force applied to the topmember 1076 is removed and a flat position (FIGS. 79 and 80) when anexternal force is applied to the top member 1076. In the erectedposition, the floral holding container 1064 is suitable for receiving afloral grouping, such as cut flowers. In the storage position, the wallmembers 1080 of the floral holding container 1064 are collapsed suchthat the floral holding container 1064 is substantially flat (FIG. 79).In the storage position, the top member 1076 and the bottom member 1078of the floral holding container 1064 are moved together and each upperwall section 1092 closely overlays the corresponding lower wall section1094.

Each elastic member 1084 extends between a corresponding one of the wallmembers 1080 and the bracket 1082 to suspend the bracket 1082 within thefloral holding container 1064. The bracket 1082 has a bracket opening1096 which may be any suitable size and shape for allowing a floralgrouping to be disposed into the floral holding container 1064.

Each elastic member 1084 may be connected to the bracket 1082 and thecorresponding wall member 1080 in any appropriate manner known in theart. Further, each elastic member 1984 may be connected to the upperwall section 1092, the lower wall section 1094, or both the upper andlower wall sections 1092 and 1094 of the corresponding wall member 1080.

The elastic members 1080 and the bracket 1082 cooperate to bias thefloral holding container 1064 into the erected position (FIG. 78). Underan external force to overcome the bias of the elastic members 1080, thefloral holding container 1064 may be collapsed into the flat storageposition (FIGS. 79 and 80) wherein the wall members 1080 moves outwardat the wall hinges 1088 and the elastic members 1084 are moved to astretched condition so that the floral holding container 1064 is movedto the collapsed position.

When the external force (i.e. a bias-overcoming influence) is removed,the elastic members 1084 return to the unstretched condition and causethe floral holding container 1064 to move to the erected position. Thesheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 is then wrapped about thefloral holding container 1064 to produce the flexible vase 1060 shown inFIG. 78.

It should be noted that a quantity of the floral holding containers 1064having a sheet of the fluid impermeable material 1062 secured to thebottom member 1078 as illustrated in FIGS. 79 and 80 can be compressedinto the flat storage position, stacked and shipped or stored in asuitable shipping box. Further, one of the floral holding containers1064 having the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1062 secured to thebottom member 1078 of the floral holding container 1064 may be stored inthe flat storage position within a sleeve similar to a phone recordalbum cover.

The floral holding container 1064 having the sheet of the fluidimpermeable material 1062 secured thereto may be maintained in a box orshelving having a plurality of mail-slot shelves. When withdrawn fromthe mail-slot shelf, the floral holding container 1064 automaticallyassumes the erected position and the sheet of fluid impermeable material1062 can be wrapped about the floral holding container 1064 to providethe flexible vase 1060. It should be appreciated that any suitabledevices known in the art may be used for the elastic members 1084 as themeans for biasing the floral holding container 1064 into the erectedposition. Such devices include, but are not limited to, rubber bands,coiled springs and flat springs.

Further, the top member 1076, the bottom member 1078 and the wall member1080 of the floral holding container 1064 may be constructed of a widevariety of materials, such as paper, cardboard, wood, metal,polypropylene and various types of natural and synthetic materials,provided, such materials having enough rigidity to sustain the floralholding container 1064 in the appropriate shape for the erectedposition.

Embodiment of FIGS. 81 and 82

Shown in FIG. 81 is another embodiment of a flexible vase 1110constructed in accordance with the present invention. The flexible vase1110 comprises a floral holding material 1112 disposed within a flexiblebag 1114 formed of a fluid impermeable material which functions as adecorative cover for the floral holding material 1112. As will be morefully described hereinafter, the flexible bag 1114 and the floralholding material 1112 cooperate to define a reservoir 1116 in theflexible vase 1110. The flexible bag 1114 extends a distance above thefloral holding material 1112 such that an upper end portion 1118 of thefloral holding material 1112 remains substantially uncovered by theflexible bag 1114. Thus, when a floral grouping such as cut flowers (notshown) is positioned within the reservoir 1116 of the flexible vase1110, a portion of the floral grouping extends outwardly from the upperend portion 1118 of the floral holding material 1112 and an outer topmargin 1120 of the flexible bag 1114.

The flexible bag 1114 is provided with a bottom panel 1122 that ispreferably formed by a plurality of panel sections which are joinedalong with lateral edges of the side panel forming the flexible bag 1114in order to form bellows that more conform to the shape of a lower end1124 of the floral holding material 1112. The side panels of theflexible bag 1114 then provide a more tubular bag sidewall which canextend upwardly from the bottom panel 1122 to terminate at the outer topmargin 1120 of the flexible bag 1114. A fastener (not shown) can then beplaced about the flexible bag 1114 so as to be disposed above the upperend portion 1118 of the floral holding material 1112 such that the upperend portion 1118 of the floral holding material 1112 remainssubstantially uncovered by the flexible bag 1114. If desired, a bondingmaterial such as an adhesive or a cohesive may be disposed on an inneror outer surface of the flexible bag 1114 so that a portion of theflexible bag 1114 can be crimped in the manner hereinbefore described.

The floral holding material 1112 comprises a shape-sustaining supportmember 1122 having an open upper end 1124, an open lower end 1126, and aperipheral sidewall 1128 defining an internal chamber extending betweenthe open upper end 1124 and the open lower end 1126. Theshape-sustaining support member 1122 is fabricated of a sheet offlexible material 1130 (FIG. 82) which has sufficient flexibility topermit the sheet of flexible material 1130 to be formed into theshape-sustaining support member 1122 and sufficient strength to providethe required shape-sustaining properties to the shape-sustaining supportmember 1122. The thickness of the flexible sheet of material 1130 canvary widely. The only requirement being that the sheet of flexiblematerial 1130 has sufficient strength and flexibility to satisfy theabove requirements.

The sheet of flexible material 1130 is secured within the flexible bag1114 by a bonding material, such as s plurality of strips of adhesive1132. A portion of the bag is gathered between the adhesive strips 1132such that when the flexible sheet of material 1130 is formed into theshape-sustaining support member 1122, the flexible bag 1114 extendssubstantially uniformly thereabout substantially as shown in FIG. 81.

The flexible sheet of material 1130 has an upper side 1134 having acentrally disposed recess 1136, a lower side 1138, a first end portion1140, and a second end portion 1142, which cooperate to provide thesheet of flexible material 1130 with a substantially semi-circularconfiguration. A sheet of flexible material 1130 is further providedwith a connector assembly 1144 for connecting the first and second endportions 1140 and 1142 of the flexible sheet of material 1130 when thesheet of flexible material 1130 is formed into the shape-sustainingsupport member 1122, substantially as shown in FIG. 81.

The connector assembly 1144 comprises a plurality of spatially disposedmale connectors 1146 and a plurality of spatially disposed femaleconnectors 1148 adapted to matingly receive the male connectors 1146when the first end portion 1140 of the sheet of flexible material 1130is disposed over the second end portion 1142 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 1130. The plurality of male connectors 1146 extend between thecentrally disposed recess 1136 and the first end portion 1140 of thesheet of flexible material 1130 such that the male connectors 1146 aredisclosed in close proximity to the portion of the upper side 1134 ofthe sheet of flexible material 1130 extending between the centrallydisposed recess 1136 and the first end portion 1140. The plurality offemale connectors 1148 extend along the second end portion 1142 of thesheet of flexible material 1130 such that the female connectors 1148 areadapted to matingly engage the male connectors 1146 when the first endportion 1140 of the sheet of flexible material 1130 is disposed over thesecond end portion 1142 thereof.

The male connectors 1146 are desirably a plurality of stud like memberswhich extend upwardly from an upper surface 1150 thereof; and theplurality of female connectors 1148 are desirably provided with arecessed portion (not shown) adapted to matingly receive the stud-likemembers of the male connectors 1146. Such connector assemblies are wellknown in the art. Thus, no further details concerning the maleconnectors 1146 and the female connectors 1148 are believed necessary.

To assemble the flexible vase 1110, the flexible sheet of material 1130is manipulated so that the first end portion 1140 of the sheet offlexible material 1130 overlays the second portion 1142 thereof and themale connector 1146 are aligned with selected female connectors 1148.Thereafter, the male connectors 1146 are pressed into mating engagementwith the female connectors 1148 so that the flexible sheet of material1130 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1122 within theflexible bag 1114. Thus, a one step operation is provided forconstructing the flexible vase 1110.

Referring now to FIGS. 83 and 84, another embodiment of a floral holdingmaterial 1160 is shown which can be used to construct a flexible vasesimilar in configuration to the flexible vase 120 herein beforedescribed with reference to FIG. 14. The floral holding material 1160comprises a shape-sustaining support member 1162 having an open upperend 1164, an open lower end 1166 and a peripheral sidewall 1168 definingan internal chamber 1170 extending between the open upper end 1164 andthe open lower end 1166. The shape-sustaining support member 1162 isfabricated of a sheet of flexible material 1172 (FIG. 84) which hassufficient flexibility to permit the sheet of flexible material 1172 tobe formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1162.

The sheet of flexible material 1172 has an upper side 1174 having acentrally disposed recess 1176, a lower side 1178, a first end portion1180 and a second end portion 1182 which cooperate to provide the sheetof flexible material 1172 with a substantially semi-circularconfiguration. The sheet of flexible material 1172 is further providedwith a connector assembly 1184 for connecting the first end portion 1180of the sheet of flexible material 1172 to the second end portion 1182 ofthe sheet of flexible material 1172 when the sheet of flexible material1172 is formed into the shape-sustaining support member 1160 as shown inFIG. 83.

The connector assembly 1184 comprises a plurality of first tabs 1186 anda plurality of second tabs 1188. The first tabs 1186 are formed along aperipheral portion of the sheet of flexible material 1172 such that thefirst tabs 1186 extend along the first end portion 1180 and the secondend portion 1182 of the sheet of flexible material substantially asshown; and the second tabs 1188 extend about the centrally disposedrecess 1176 found in the upper side 1174 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 1172.

To form the sheet of flexible material 1172 into the shape-sustainingsupport member 1160 (FIG. 83) for use in the construction of a flexiblevase, the first end portion 1180 of the sheet of flexible material 1172is positioned over the second end portion 1182 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 1172 such that at least a portion of the first tabs 1186 formedalong the first end portion 1180 of the sheet of flexible material 1172are aligned with and disposed adjacent a portion of the first tabs 1186formed along the second end portion 1182 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 1172 and a portion of the second tabs 1188 formed along oneside of the centrally disposed recess 1176 overlap and are aligned witha portion of the second tabs 1188 formed along a second side of thecentrally disposed recess 1176. At least a portion of the aligned firsttabs 1186 and at least a portion of the aligned second tabs 1188 arebent or extended in an inwardly direction (FIG. 83) so as to connect thefirst end portion 1180 of the sheet of flexible material 1172 to thesecond end portion 1182 of the sheet of flexible material 1172 andthereby provide the shape-sustaining support member 1162 substantiallyas shown in FIG. 83.

Embodiments of FIGS. 85-90

Shown in FIG. 85 is an embodiment of a flexible vase 1200 constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The flexible vase 1200 comprisesa sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202 wrapped about a floralholding material 1204 and secured about the floral holding material 1204by a band 1206. As will be more fully described in detail hereinafter,the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202 and the floral holdingmaterial 1204 cooperate to define a reservoir 1208 in the flexible vase1200. Thus, to store floral groupings, such as the previously describedcut flowers 70 having stem portions 72 and bloom portions 74, the stemportions 72 of the cut flowers 70 are disposed into the reservoir 1208of the flexible vase 1200 and the reservoir 1208 is then filled with asuitable fluid, such as water 1209.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202 is substantially identicalin construction to the sheet of fluid impermeable material 62hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 11. Thus, the sheet offluid impermeable material 1202 may be of any shape such as a square, ora rectangle or any other geometric configuration. Further, the sheet offluid impermeable material 1202 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterial as long as at least one of the sheets of material, preferablythe sheet of material disposed substantially adjacent the floral holdingmaterial 1204 is impermeable to a fluid, such as water. When utilizingmore than one layer of material as the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 1202, the sheets of material may be connected together,laminated or maintained as separate sheets of material. The thickness ofthe sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202 can vary widely, the onlyrequirements being that the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202have sufficient strength so that the flexible vase 1200 formed from thefloral holding material 1204 and the sheet of fluid impermeable material1202 is capable of holding water disposed in the reservoir 1208 of theflexible vase 1200 and to permit the flexible vase 1200 to betransported and displayed and that the sheet of fluid impermeablematerial 1202 be wrappable about the floral holding material 1204 asdescribed in detail hereinafter.

It should be understood that a pad of sheets of fluid impermeablematerial 1202 may be utilized to enhance assembly of a plurality offlexible vases 1200, or a roll of fluid impermeable material 1202 may beprovided so that sheets of the fluid impermeable material 1202 canreadily be obtained by cutting a sheet of material from the roll ofmaterial or by providing perforations in the roll of material tofacilitate removal of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202 is disposed about thefloral holding material 1204 to form a decorative cover 1210 about thefloral holding material 1204. The decorative cover 1210 extends adistance above the floral holding material 1204 such that an upper endportion 1212 of the floral holding material 1204 remains substantiallyuncovered by the decorative cover 1210. Thus, when the stem of a floralgrouping, such as cut flowers 70, is positioned within the reservoir1208 of the flexible vase 1200, an upper portion of the stem portions 72and the bloom portions 74 of the cut flowers 70 extend outwardly fromthe upper end portion 1212 of the floral holding material 1204.

A crimped portion 1214 can be formed in the decorative cover 1210 nearthe upper end portion 1212 of the floral holding material 1204. Thecrimped portion 1214, which extends a distance inwardly, can be formedby crimping together portions of the decorative cover 1210. The crimpedportion 1214 can also be formed by placing the band 1206 about a portionof the decorative cover 1210, in which case the band 1206 gathers orbrings together portions of the decorative cover 1210 and pulls portionsof the decorative cover 1210 toward the upper end portion 1212 of thefloral holding material 1204 to form the crimped portion 1214substantially as shown.

The sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202 may also have a bondingmaterial (not shown) disposed thereon for connecting adjacently disposedportions of the decorative cover 1210 forming the crimped portion 1214.The bonding material (not shown) may be disposed on at least one of anupper surface or a lower surface (not shown) of the sheet of fluidimpermeable material 1202 so as to be disposed a distance radially froma central portion of the sheet of fluid impermeable material 1202; andthe bonding material may be in the form of a continuous strip, spots orspaced apart strips and the spots or spaced apart strips may be of anygeometric design.

Referring now to FIG. 86, shown therein is the floral holding material1204. The floral holding material 1204 has an open upper end 1222, anopen lower end 1224 and a peripheral sidewall 1226 defining an internalchamber 1228 extending between the open upper end 1222 and the openlower end 1224. The floral holding material 1204 is fabricated of asheet of flexible material 1230 (FIG. 87) which has sufficientflexibility to permit the sheet of flexible material 1230 to be formedinto the floral holding material 1204, which has sufficient strength toprovide the required shape sustaining properties to the floral holdingmaterial 1204 and which is sufficiently fluid resistant to preventdeterioration of the floral holding material 1204 when contacted with afluid such as water. The thickness of the sheet of flexible material1230 can vary widely, the only requirements being that the sheet offlexible material 1230 have sufficient strength and flexibility tosatisfy the above requirements.

The sheet of flexible material 1230 has an upper side 1232 having acentrally disposed recess 1234 having a plurality of slots 1235extending radially therefrom, a lower side 1236, a first end portion1238, and a second end portion 1240 which cooperate to provide the sheetof flexible material 1230 with a substantially semi-circularconfiguration. The sheet of flexible material 1230 is also provided witha connector assembly 1242 for connecting the first end portion 1238 ofthe sheet of flexible material 1230 to the second end portion 1240 ofthe sheet of flexible material 1230 so that the sheet of flexiblematerial 1230 can be formed into the shape-sustaining support member1220. The plurality of slots 1235 are optional and the sheet of flexiblematerial 1230 may be constructed without slots extending radially fromthe centrally disposed recess 1234.

The connector assembly 1242 comprises a male connector 1244 extendingfrom the upper side 1232 of the sheet of flexible material 1230 so as tobe disposed in close proximity to the first end portion 1238 of thesheet of flexible material 1230. A plurality of female connectors 1246are formed in the second end portion 1240 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 1230 such that at least one female connector 1246 is adapted tomatingly receive the male connector 1244 and thereby connect the firstend portion 1238 of the sheet of flexible material 1230 to the secondend portion 1240 of the sheet of flexible material 1230 and thus providethe shape-sustaining support member 1220 shown in FIG. 86.

Referring to FIG. 88, the male connector 1244 is provided with a legportion 1248 extending outwardly from a distal end of a shank portion1250. The leg portion 1248 has a first side 1252, a second side 1254 anda width 1256 extending from the first side 1252 to the second side 1254.The shank portion 1250 has a first side 1260, a second side 1262 and awidth 1264 extending from the first side 1260 to the second side 1262.The width 1256 of the leg portion 1248 is greater than the width 1260 ofthe shank portion 1250 such that the first side 1252 of the leg portion1248 extends beyond the first side 1260 of the shank portion therebyforming a hook portion 1266.

Referring to FIG. 89, the plurality of female connectors 1246 are aplurality of slits spatially formed in the second end portion 1240 ofthe sheet of flexible material 1230 so that each of the femaleconnectors 1246 is alignable with the male connector 1244 when the firstend portion 1238 of the sheet of flexible material 1230 is disposed overthe second end portion 1240 of the sheet of flexible material 1212during formation of the shape-sustaining support member 1220. Each ofthe plurality of female connectors 1246 has a first side 1268, a secondside 1270 and a width 1272 extending from the first side 1268 to thesecond side 1270. The width 1272 of the female connector 1246 isslightly greater than the width 1256 of the leg portion 1248. Thus, uponinserting the leg portion 1248 of the male connector 1244 into theselected female connector 1246, substantially all of the leg portion1298 is disposed through the female connector 1246 and the hook portion1266 of the leg portion 1248 engages the first side 1268 of the femaleconnector 1246 and thereby secures the first end portion 1238 to thesecond end portion 1240 of the flexible sheet of material 1230 so as toform the shape sustaining support member 1220. The circumferentialdimensions of the shape-sustaining support member 1200 can be varied byselecting different female connectors into which the leg portion 1248 isdisposed.

While the sheet of flexible material 1230 has been illustrated as havingonly one male connector 1244, it should be understood that a pluralityof male connectors 1244 could be disposed along the upper side 1232 ofthe sheet of flexible material 1230 for matingly engaging the femaleconnectors 1246 formed in the second end portion 1240 of the sheet offlexible material 1230. Further, while the male connector 1244 has beendepicted as having a leg portion 1248, it should be understood that theconfiguration of the male connector 1244 can vary widely and the legportion 1248 of the male connector 1244 could be in the shape of anarrow, or any other geometric configuration which is adapted to matinglyengage and be connected to the female connectors 1246 so that the firstend portion 1238 of the sheet of flexible material 1230 can be securelyconnected to the second end portion 1240 of the sheet of flexiblematerial 1230 so as to form the shape-sustaining support member 1220.

While the male connector 1244 has been described and illustrated ashaving the hook portion 1266 on the first side 1252 of the leg portion1248 which engages the first side 1268 of the female connector 1246, itshould be understood that the male connector 1244 can be configured onthe second side 1254 of the leg portion 1248 so as to engage the secondside 1270 of the female connector 1246.

To prevent puncture of the decorative cover 1210 formed about theshape-sustaining support member 1220 by the stem portions 72 of a floralgrouping, such as cut flowers 70, a base member 1274 is disposed aboutthe open lower end 1224 of the shape-sustaining, support member 1220substantially as shown in FIG. 89. The base member 1274 is provided withan upwardly extending lip 1276 to assist in stabilizing the base member1274 relative to the shape-sustaining support member 1220.

FIG. 90 illustrates another embodiment of a base member 1278 for theshape-sustaining support member 1220. In this embodiment, the basemember 1278 is provided with an inwardly tapered peripheral sidewall1280 for matingly engaging a lower portion of the interior surface ofthe peripheral sidewall 1226 of the shape-sustaining support member1220. That is, the base member 1278 is sized such that the base member1278 can be disposed within the open lower end 1224 of theshape-sustaining support member 1220 substantially as shown in FIG. 90.

The base members 1274 and 1278 depicted in FIGS. 89 and 90 can beconnected, if desired, to the shape-sustaining support member 1220 toenhance stability and water tightness of the internal chamber 1228formed in the shape-sustaining support member 1220. Any suitable meanscan be employed for connecting the base members 1274 and 1278 to theshape-sustaining support member 1220, such as an adhesive, cohesive,pressure sensitive adhesive and the like.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein and changes may bemade in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods describedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A floral holding material for supporting a sheetof fluid impermeable material in a form so that the sheet of fluidimpermeable material is capable of maintaining a liquid about a stemportion of a floral grouping, the floral holding material comprising: asheet of flexible material having an upper side having a centrallydisposed recess and a plurality of slots extending radially from thecentrally disposed recess so as to provide support in a manner that doesnot crush the stem portion of the floral grouping, a lower side, a firstend portion, and a second end portion, the sheet of flexible materialhaving a substantially semi-circular shape such that when the first endportion is overlapped and connected to the second end portion, the sheetof flexible material is formed into the floral holding material havingan open upper end, an open lower end, and a peripheral sidewall definingan internal chamber extending between the open upper end and the openlower end, the sheet of flexible material having at least one maleconnector formed in the first end portion of the flexible sheet ofmaterial, the at least one male connector having a leg portion extendingoutwardly from a distal end of a shank portion, and at least one femaleconnector formed in the second end portion of the sheet of flexiblematerial adapted to matingly receive the leg portion of the at least onemale connector for securing the first end portion of the sheet offlexible material to the second end portion of the sheet of flexiblematerial.
 2. The floral holding material of claim 1 wherein the sheet offlexible material is constructed of a polymeric material.
 3. The floralholding material of claim 1 wherein the at least one female connectorcomprises at least one slot in the second end portion.
 4. A floralholding material which, when wrapped with a sheet of fluid impermeablematerial provides a flexible vase, the flexible vase having a reservoircapable of maintaining a liquid about stem portions of flowers disposedin the reservoir of the flexible vase during transportation and displayof the flowers, comprising: a sheet of flexible material having an upperside, a lower side, a first end portion and a second end portion; a maleconnector disposed along the first end portion of the flexible sheet ofmaterial, the male connector having a leg portion extending from adistal end of a shank portion; a female connector having a plurality ofapertures spatially disposed along the second end portion of the sheetof flexible material, the male connector and female connectorcooperating to connect the first end portion of the sheet of flexiblematerial to the second end portion of the sheet of flexible material toform a shape-sustaining support member having an open upper end, an openlower end and a peripheral sidewall defining an internal chamber; and anextension member extending outwardly from the lower side of the sheet offlexible material, the extension member being sized and configured suchthat upon forming the sheet of flexible material into theshape-sustaining support member and positioning the extension membersubstantially adjacent the open lower end of the shape-sustainingsupport member, the extension member defines a base member for theshape-sustaining support member which extends across at least asubstantial portion of the internal chamber of the shape-sustainingsupport member.
 5. The floral holding material of claim 4 wherein thesheet of flexible material is constructed of a polymer material.